Living The Writing Life Podcast with Nancy Christie

Thoughts on writing and life for October 2026

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:59:22 -0400

Just a few thoughts about the paths we have traveled and the journeys we have yet to undertake during our writing life.

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In Conversation With … Mike Coss, author

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:16:01 -0400

Mike Coss, aka C. A. Coss / M. J. Coss, is a Northeast Ohio author who writes for both children and adults. As C. A. Coss, he is the creator of Grady the Groundhog’s Maplewood Tales, a children’s adventure series inspired in part by his experiences as a father and centered on friendship, courage, kindness, and perseverance.

Writing as M. J. Coss, he created the Phyllis Doran Mysteries, a cozy mystery series inspired by his mother and blending adventure, history, puzzles, and intriguing locations. Across both genres, he enjoys creating memorable characters and stories that invite readers to explore, imagine, and discover.

For more about Mike, visit his M. J. Coss website and C. A. Coss website. You can also follow him on Facebook.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how one’s personal life can inspire one’s choice in writing.

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2026

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:30:02 -0400

Just a few thoughts on balancing the desire to write better with pride in what we have written.

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In Conversation With … Rob Bignell, author and editor

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:30:11 -0400

Rob Bignell is the owner and chief editor of Inventing Reality Editing Service, which meets the editing and proofreading needs of writers both new and published.

Several of his short stories in the literary and science fiction genres have been published, and he is the author of the literary novel Windmill, the nonfiction Storytelling 101 Quick Reads, 7 Minutes a Day…, Best Sights to See, Hikes with Tykes, Headin’ to the Cabin, and Hittin’ the Trail guidebooks, a poetry collection and several children’s books.

His latest book is Protecting Yourself against Book Marketing Scams.

For more than two decades, he worked as an award-winning journalist, with half of those years as an editor. He spent another seven years as an English teacher and community college journalism instructor. He holds a master’s degree in English and a bachelor’s in journalism and English.

For more about Rob, visit his website, check out his blog, and listen to his podcast. You can also follow him on Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads and X/Twitter.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about avoiding scam artists in the publishing world.

Thoughts on writing and life for August 2026

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:37:20 -0400

Just a few thoughts on shifting our goal from selling our work to connecting with people.

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Thoughts on writing and life for July 2026

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 06:34:14 -0400

Just a few thoughts on how our past experiences inform our current writing work.

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In Conversation With … author Deborah Kalb

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:17:29 -0400

Deborah Kalb is an author, editor, book blogger, podcaster, and former journalist. Her most recent release is the adult novel Everything She Most Admired. Her other books include the adult novel Off to Join the Circus, and she’s also written fiction for kids and nonfiction for adults. She also covered Congress and politics for two decades for a variety of news organizations.

Deborah is the host of the blog Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb and the co-host of the podcast Rereading Our Childhood. She lives in the D.C. area.

For more about Deborah, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about allowing book ideas the time they need to develop.

Thoughts on writing and life for June 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:49:32 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we need to recognize our writing accomplishments.

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The common threads that link My Midlife Moxie novels

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:25:30 -0400

What do my Midlife Moxie novels have in common? In this episode, I share the metaphorical threads that unite REINVENTING RITA, FINDING FRAN, MOVING MAGGIE and TRANSFORMING TESSA as well as the upcoming INVESTING IN IRIS.

You can learn more about each book and find the retail links here. And if you sign up for my newsletter, Nancy's Book News, on my website, you’ll have access to special deals and giveaways!

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Thoughts on writing and life for May 2026

Sun, 10 May 2026 07:09:48 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the similarity between growing a garden and growing a book.

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My Author’s Notes and some thoughts about Transforming Tessa, my latest Midlife Moxie novel

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:47:55 -0400

Here is a little about Transforming Tessa, my latest Midlife Moxie novel—the back cover copy and my Author’s Notes—as well as some thoughts I wanted to share about grief and loss, life changes and transitions. Writing Tessa’s story brought up a lot of memories for me— memories of fear, uncertainty, self-doubt and of course the pain of losing people I loved dearly. Does her story sound like something you can relate to?

You can learn more about the book and find retail links here. You can also sign up for Nancy's Book News on my website and get access to special deals and giveaways.

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Thoughts on writing and life for April 2026

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:24:00 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the highs and lows of being in the writing profession.

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Thoughts on writing and life for March 2026

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:22:05 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why I need to get off the hamster wheel so I can move forward on my writing life.

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In Conversation With … Cliff Lovette, author

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:24:59 -0500

Cliff Lovette practiced entertainment law for over 40 years, representing multi-platinum artists like Usher and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and serving as SVP of Legal at LaFace Records under LA Reid and Babyface.

A graduate of Tufts University and Emory Law School, he advocates for reconciliation and justice, having co-produced a historic event connecting descendants of Buffalo Soldiers and Lakota Native Americans, and leading a campaign to rename Fort Benning after Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American graduate of West Point.

He lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his dog London. Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure is his debut novel.

For more about Cliff, visit his website and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

In this conversation, we talked about using modern technology to help immerse readers in the music and culture that permeates the novel.

Thoughts on writing and life for January 2026

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:12:44 -0500

Just a few thoughts on finding a quiet place to let the space that holds our creativity refill itself.

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In Conversation With … Brittany Micka-Foos, author

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:48:02 -0500

Brittany Micka-Foos is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of the short story collection It’s No Fun Anymore (Apprentice House, 2025) and the poetry chapbook a litany of words as fragile as window glass (Bottlecap Press, 2024).

Her poems, essays, and short stories appear in a variety of publications, including Ninth Letter, Witness, CALYX Journal, the Non-Binary Review, Hobart, Identity Theory, Literary Mama, Briar Cliff Review, Typehouse Magazine, Variant Literature, and elsewhere.

A former victim’s rights lawyer in Washington, DC, Brittany turned to writing after the birth of her first child.

For more about Brittany, visit her website, and follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.

In this conversation, we discussed using the short story genre to explore various aspects of modern womanhood.

Thoughts on writing and life for December 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 05:13:34 -0500

Just a few thoughts on finding the courage to be brave in our writing life.

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In Conversation With … Susan Poole, author

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:31:51 -0500

Susan Poole is a mother, lawyer, freelance writer, and nonprofit professional. She was awarded the 2023 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) for her debut novel, Out of the Crash.

Susan's essays have been featured on the popular parenting websites Grown and Flown and Scary Mommy. Additionally, she has published two nonfiction pieces: a memoir in Neighborhood Voices and an article about her experience as a wrestling mom in Grapple Alley.

Susan lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where she and her husband raised their three children and remain empty nesters with two dogs to keep them company.

For more about Susan, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, Goodreads, Medium and Bluesky.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore answering the “If not now, when?” question.

Thoughts on writing and life for November 2025

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:53:52 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why I made “adaptability” my word of the month.

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Finding my tribe later in life

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:27:52 -0400

After all these years, I finally gained a sense of community and belonging, and I have my first novel to thank for that.

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Thoughts on writing and life for October 2025

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:10:09 -0400

Just a few thoughts on what has been my greatest setback as a writer.

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In Conversation With … co-authors Judilee Butler and Jean, aka GaGa, Gabardi

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:02:02 -0400

After retiring from a career in telecommunications, GaGa Gabardi completed her pilot’s license and now consults, teaches and does course development in the aviation fuel industry. She lives with her husband in the Colorado mountains and has her first grandson to thank for the name GaGa.

Judilee Butler taught elementary education for nine years in upstate New York before moving to North Carolina. She then made a 180-degree change into an exciting marketing career, and after retirement moved several more times, first to the coast of Maine, then to Arkansas Valley in Colorado before settling in Wyoming, and she says she is now done moving!

Both women are passionate about bringing awareness through their writing to the trials women face in an often male-dominated world. The books in their Phoebe Korneal Mystery Series include The Last Hurrah, The Last Slide, The Last Line and the prequel, Love in the Rearview Mirror.

For more about both women and their books, visit the Phoebe Korneal website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

In this conversation, we talk about partnering in the fiction writing process.

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2025

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:36:38 -0400

Just a few thoughts on ways to reignite my author fire

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Where do you get your inspiration?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:29:57 -0400

My answer to an oft-asked question, along with a little about my writing process and my work.

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Thoughts on writing and life for August 2025

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 06:18:13 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the importance of seeking writing opportunities outside our usual lane.

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In Conversation With … Scott Shepherd, author, producer and show-runner

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:35:53 -0400

Scott Shepherd is a veteran writer/producer/show-runner with years of experience running network series; his production and screenwriting credits include The Equalizer, Miami Vice, The Outer Limits, Haven, and Quantum Leap. Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, he currently teaches television writing at the University of Texas in Austin.

His books include Should I Fall (2022) and The Last Commandment (2021) (part of the Austin Grant series), The Seventh Day (2013) and Descending Son (2014).

For more about Scott, visit his website and follow him on X, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and BookBub.

In this conversation, we’ll be talking about bringing a long-held dream of writing novels to reality.

Thoughts on writing and life for July 2025

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 06:02:12 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the connection between freedom and writing.

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In Conversation With … novelist and short story writer Gerry Wilson

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:31:33 -0400

A seventh generation Mississippian, Gerry Wilson grew up in the red clay hills of the north that she writes about in her debut novel, THAT PINSON GIRL, released by Regal House Publishing in February 2024.

A story, “Tell Me Anything,” appeared in Persimmon Tree in June 2024. Another story, “A Language of Their Own,” was runner-up for The Porch Fiction Prize 2024. “Life Line” was a finalist in December magazine’s Curt Johnson Prose Award for Fiction and was published in december in the spring of 2023.

Her short fiction has appeared in numerous other journals. Gerry is also a 2025 Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Artist Fellowship recipient.

For more about Gerry, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about writing fiction as a second act in the creative life.

Thoughts on writing and life for June 2025

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:54:24 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we must continually redefine how we define writing success for ourselves.

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In Conversation With … Aime Austin, author

Wed, 21 May 2025 14:34:28 -0400

Aime Austin is the author of the Casey Cort and Nicole Long Series of legal thrillers. She is also the host of the podcast, A Time to Thrill.

When she’s not writing crime fiction or interviewing brilliant creators for her podcast, she’s in a yoga pose, knitting, or reading. Aime splits her time between Los Angeles and Budapest. Before turning to writing, Aime practiced family and criminal law in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more about Aime, visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

In this conversation, we’ll be talking about integrating social commentary in fiction.

Thoughts on writing and life for May 2025

Fri, 09 May 2025 14:31:06 -0400

Just a few thoughts on parenting ourselves and other writers as we travel together on our writing journey.

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In Conversation With … David Allen Edmonds, author

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:48:30 -0400

David Allen Edmonds spent most of his working life teaching German at the high school and college levels. His summer jobs ranged from campaign manager to stay-at-home dad to track coach.

He co-wrote two educational TV series for the Cleveland PBS affiliate (WVIZ) and spent one summer in Hollywood on the writing staff of ABC-Paramount’s Out of the Blue, a spin-off of Mork and Mindy.

Teaching remained his first love, and his experiences in the classroom form the setting for his ‘Joe Lehrer’ suspense novels, Personal Pronouns and Indirect Objects. During COVID his writing took a different turn: he published the small-town romances Unexpected Love in 2022 and Unveiled Love in 2024.

For more about David, visit his website and his Amazon Author page, and follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads and Alignable.

In this conversation, we talk about reinventing yourself as a writer later in life.

Thoughts on writing and life for April 2025

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 08:40:48 -0400

Just a few thoughts on finding the courage to write and finding courage in what we write.

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In Conversation With … John Amos, author

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:03:28 -0400

John Amos is the author of four novels: The Student, The Cleopatra Caper, The Case of the Stolen Goddess and The Bones of the Apostle as well as academic publications that include several books and multiple articles.

He holds a PhD and a JD and has taught at university level for 25 years. John has lived in the Middle East, most notably in Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, and Turkey, and currently practices Law.

For more about John, visit his website and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

In this conversation, we talk about exploring new horizons with writing and through writing.

Thoughts on writing and life for March 2025

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:48:01 -0500

Just a few thoughts on how we, as writers, can make a difference in the world, one word at a time.

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In Conversation With … Liza Nash Taylor, author

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:31:26 -0500

Liza Nash Taylor is the author of Etiquette for Runaways and In All Good Faith. The 2016 winner of the San Miguel Writers Conference Fiction Prize, her work has appeared in Microchondria II, Gargoyle Magazine, and Deep South, amongst others.

She was a 2018 Hawthornden International Fellow and received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A native Virginian, she lives in Keswick with her husband and dogs.

For more about Liza, visit her website and follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the role of an intermezzo in the creative life.

Thoughts on writing and life for February 2025

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 08:11:07 -0500

Just a few thoughts on the important role libraries play in our communities.

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Thoughts on writing and life for January 2025

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:37:34 -0500

Just a few thoughts on how choosing the right word or words for the year can guide us through 12 months of writing.

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In Conversation With … Megan Rogers, author

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:32:10 -0500

Megan Rogers is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, former dance teacher and studio owner, and mother of three. A professional dancer, Megan is known for her performances with the NFL. She made a remarkable transition from the stage to the literary world with her hit children's book, Rosie Finds Her Shine.

Since its release, Megan has sold over 13,000 copies of her award-winning self-published book about Rosie, a reindeer from the North Pole who loves to dance.

For more about Megan, visit her website and follow her on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

In this conversation, we talk about the importance of finding our own way to shine.

Thoughts on writing and life for December 2024

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:57:51 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to believe in the magic of writing.

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In Conversation With … Matthew J. Kushin, Ph.D., author

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:16:13 -0500

Dr. Kushin is the author of the coming-of-age novel Beware the Smart Kids. An award-winning professor, author, and scholar at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, he’s also the author of Teach Social Media: A Plan for Creating a Course Your Students Will Love, and writes Social Media Syllabus, a popular blog and resource tool for social media educators.

He is a senior fellow in the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications, where he also serves on the board of advisors, and is passionate about creating a more civil and kinder world.

For more about Dr. Kushin, visit his website and follow him on Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the link between happiness and creativity.

Thoughts on writing and life for November 2024

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 06:47:56 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to take time just to breathe for creativity’s sake.

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Thoughts on writing and life for October 2024

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 05:18:56 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we need to feed our creative confidence with positive memories.

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In Conversation With … Elisabeth Sharp McKetta, author

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:51:14 -0400

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta is an award-winning author, teacher, and speaker who teaches writing for Harvard and Oxford.

She is the author of thirteen books, including the novels Ark and She Never Told Me About the Ocean, the memoir-in-essays Awake with Asashoryu, and the guidebook Edit Your Life—which was inspired by her 2019 TEDxBoise talk.

She co-edited the anthology What Doesn’t Kill Her: Women’s Stories of Resilience, which Gloria Steinem described as stories that “will help each of us to trust and tell our own.”

Elisabeth’s work with myth and memoir, the focus of her doctorate, has been spotlighted in Harvard Magazine.

For more about Elisabeth, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how to adapt myths and fairy tales to reclaim your own life story.

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2024

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 14:55:57 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we need to find our writing tribe.

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In Conversation With … Jeanne Blasberg, author and essayist

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:16:29 -0400

Jeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. Her first two novels, The Nine (released in 2019) and Eden (released in 2017), were both award winners, and the third in that trilogy, Daughter of a Promise, was just released this past April.

A Smith College graduate, Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer’s Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She is both a teacher of writing and a lifetime learner and co-chairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country’s preeminent creative writing centers.

Jeanne also reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books. When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, WI.

For more about Jeanne, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Substack and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the intersection of her life stage and her occupation as a farmer with her life as a writer.

Thoughts on writing and life for August 2024

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:52:21 -0400

Just a few thoughts on how midlife can be our most creative stage—if we are open to it.

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Thoughts on writing and life for July 2024

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 15:25:02 -0400

Just a few thoughts on how I realized that I needed to "unpack" my brain from one book project before I started another.

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In Conversation With … author Delia Ephron

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:45:11 -0400

Delia Ephron is a bestselling author, screenwriter, essayist, and playwright. Her novels include the New York Times bestseller Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life that came out in 2022, Siracusa, and The Lion Is In, several essay collections, and books for children and young adults.

Her movie credits include You've Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, This is My Life, Michael, and Hanging Up. Her play, "Love, Loss, and What I Wore," written with her sister Nora Ephron (based on the book by Ilene Beckerman), ran for two years off Broadway and has been performed internationally.

For more about Delia, visit her website and follow her on X and Instagram.

In this conversation, we’ll discuss the intersection of life and the creative process: how one can affect, influence and impact the other.

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Thoughts on writing and life for June 2024

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 11:58:06 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we shouldn’t confuse “I’ve never done it” with “I can’t do it.”

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In Conversation With … Jonathan Lewis, writer and assemblage artist

Wed, 22 May 2024 14:10:07 -0400

Jonathan Lewis writes microfiction travelogues which he shares freely at his website. Each 500-word story follows an international traveler as he explores the world and tries to better understand his place in it.

Now retired, Jonathan has had an eclectic career: California State Senate legislative staffer; art gallery owner; founder/CEO of a global social enterprise financing small businesses owned by low-income women; real estate developer; visiting professor at NYU and UC Berkeley. He has written one nonfiction book on social entrepreneurship. Jonathan is also an assemblage artist working with recycled materials.

For more about Jonathan, visit his website or follow him on Threads and Instagram.

In this conversation, we’ll discuss how travel can inspire creativity.

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Thoughts on writing and life for May 2024

Sun, 12 May 2024 15:56:00 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we shouldn’t confuse creative dormancy with creative death.

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In Conversation With … Charlene Wexler, author

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:54:31 -0400

A native Chicagoan, Charlene Wexler has been a teacher, wife, dental office manager, mother and grandmother. In retirement, her lifelong passion for writing has led her to create several essays and novels. Her books include Murder on Skid Row, Milk and Oranges, Lori and Elephants In The Room.

Charlene’s newest book, Farewell To South Shore was released in 2024, and her next one, We Won't Go Back, is scheduled for 2025.

For more about Charlene, visit her website and follow her on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about creative transitions in the writing journey.

Thoughts on writing and life for April 2024

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 13:10:51 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we can’t let our creativity be eclipsed by others or our own self-doubt.

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In Conversation With … Stephani Halleen Atkins (aka s.c.halleen), author

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:15:46 -0400

Stephani Halleen Atkins, who writes under the name of s.c.halleen, describes herself as a recovering nonprofit founder, current grant writer, and the aspiring creator of a new form of reading: the SummerSnow multimedia serial story, which reads like an ebook but interweaves audio, image and film throughout the narrative.

In addition, she has written a novel, edited tv spec scripts, hosted a radio show, and presented a TEDx talk entitled “World in Uproar: How Stories, Not Facts, Will Save the Day.”

For more about Stephanie, visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Threads

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about taking your own advice and making time to write your own stories.

Thoughts on writing and life for March 2024

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 14:51:20 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we have to believe that our creativity, like a garden bed, can produce results.

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Thoughts on writing and life for February 2024

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 06:29:46 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we shouldn’t let milestone birthdays stop us in our creative tracks.

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In Conversation With … Eric Walker, author

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 06:54:32 -0500

As an amateur genealogist and family historian, Eric Walker was impelled to write his debut novel Lost Souls Recovered when he discovered the richness of family stories through research of historical documents and those stories told to him by relatives.

As he read historical documents and talked to relatives, he envisioned a way to bring to life in fiction form many of his ancestors who lived a hardscrabble life and who worked to overcome hardship. Eric believes the written word can unlock doors as well as the imagination and unite our spirits through our visions.

A lawyer who lives in Ohio, Eric is working on a second novel involving land loss in the early post-Reconstruction era.

For more about Eric, visit his author page and follow him on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at @Sennachietyme.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the importance, and the value, of understanding the past—our own and that of others.

Thoughts on writing and life for January 2024

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 13:56:47 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to do “different” to have “different.”

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In Conversation With … Michael Bourne, author

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 13:29:54 -0500

Michael Bourne is the author of Blithedale Canyon (Regal House, 2022). He is a long-time contributing editor at Poets & Writers Magazine and he has written for the New York Times, the Globe & Mail, The Economist, Literary Hub, and Salon.

His fiction has appeared in more than a dozen literary magazines including, most recently, december, The Southampton Review, and Tin House. Blithedale Canyon is his first novel. He grew up in Northern California and now lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and son.

For more about Michael, visit his website and follow him on Instagram (michaelrbourne) and Twitter/X (@bournewriter).

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the reality of transitioning from being a published short story writer to a published novelist—both the creative aspect and the business side of it.

Thoughts on writing and life for December 2023

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 11:18:45 -0500

Just a few thoughts on the importance of being willing to make revisions: in writing and in life.

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In Conversation With … Molly Giles, author

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:44:55 -0500

Molly Giles is the award-winning author of six story collections and two novels. Rough Translations won The Flannery O’Connor Prize the Boston Globe Award, and the Bay Area Book Reviewers’ Award.

Other notable accolades have been awarded from the Small Press Best Fiction Award for Creek Walk, which also earned a Commonwealth Silver Medal Award for Fiction, and was a New York Times Notable Book. Bothered won the Split Oak Press Flash Fiction Award; and All The Wrong Places won the Spokane Prize for Fiction.

Molly’s work has also earned The O. Henry Award and the Pushcart Prize, and she has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Marin Arts Council, and the Arkansas Arts Council. Wife With Knife was the Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize.

Her latest book, the novel The Home For Unwed Husbands was released in August 2023, and published in the U.S. by Leapfrog Press and by Can of Worms Enterprises in the U.K.

For more about Molly, visit her website and follow her on Facebook.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about longevity as an author: how to keep the creative spark alive and strong.

Thoughts on writing and life for November 2023

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:17:29 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to take regular breaks to refresh and renew our creative spirit.

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In Conversation With … Gillian Felix, author and entrepreneur

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:31:51 -0400

Gillian Felix has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil, and as of this writing, she is the author of 10 books. She enjoys creating characters that could be your next-door neighbor, but would you want them as your neighbor is another story.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Miss Felix moved to the United States in 1998. She has been involved in the entertainment industry for over ten years. She is trained in the Meisner and Stanislavski technique of acting, which she credits as an asset to her character development and writing.

Miss Felix is also an entrepreneur and advocate for children's and women's rights. Her company, Karma Centric Solutions builds SEO compliant websites for small business and provides marketing from a karma centric perspective.

For more about Gillian, visit her Plain Talk Book Marketing website and her Karma Centric Solutions website. You can also follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram (GillianFelix23 and PlainTalkBookMarketing), Goodreads, and on Facebook (Family Portrait Novels and Plain Talk Book Marketing). You can find her book, Adriana, A Banovic Series Book 1 here and information about her Family Portrait Novels here.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how to find our way back to writing after an unplanned (and unwelcome) hiatus.

Thoughts on writing and life for October 2023

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 08:06:54 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why our focus as authors should be on building relationships, not just on selling books.

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In Conversation With … Egyptologist Mary Ann Marazzi, PhD

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:18:18 -0400

Mary Ann Marazzi is an Egyptologist with a doctoral degree in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology/Egyptology, who has 27 years of experience working at archaeological sites in the US, Italy, and Egypt.

She has taught art history and world cultures at colleges and universities, edits academic journals and has written numerous articles for educational publications and children’s magazines.

For more about Mary Ann, visit her LinkedIn page.

In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about her work as an Egyptologist and how it is about discovery: what is found, what isn’t found (which is a discovery in and of itself), who those people were and how they lived.

And the correlation between that and fiction writing, which is about uncovering the truth about the characters and the surprises that can result from unexpected “finds.”

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2023

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:19:21 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we need to put our money (and time) where our mouth is when it comes to our writing career.

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Thoughts on writing and life for August 2023

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:49:46 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why it’s important to pay attention when Opportunity knocks and then decide how to handle the summons.

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In Conversation With … Joyce Maynard, author

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:36:05 -0400

Over her fifty-year career, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard has published hundreds of essays as well as twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction, including the memoir At Home in the World and the novels To Die For and Labor Day, both adapted for film.

Maynard’s newest novel, The Bird Hotel, was published May 2023. How the Light Gets In, the sequel to her novel, Count the Ways-- named an Amazon Best Book in 2021—will be published in spring, 2024.

Maynard is a fellow of Macdowell and Yaddo. Every winter for over two decades, she has led the Lake Atitlan Memoir workshop, Write by the Lake, in Guatemala.

For more about Joyce, visit her website and follow her on Instagram @therealjoycemaynard.

In today’s conversation, we discussed the impact on us, as women and as writers, when the landscape of our lives shifts and our home—both literally and metaphorically—is no longer familiar to us, and how that affects our ability to write.

Thoughts on writing and life for July 2023

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:21:03 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why it’s important to learn to “enjoy the ride” when writing.

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In Conversation With … Cecelia Tichi, author

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:02:55 -0400

Cecelia Tichi is the author of the “Val and Roddy DeVere Gilded Series,” mystery crime novels that pulse with turn-of-the-century American life…and death.

An award-winning author and Professor of English and American Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt University, her nonfiction and fiction books have focused on the decades of America's industrial titans, the "Queens" of Society and the U.S. Gilded Age. She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society.

For more about Cecelia, visit her website and her Wikipedia page and follow her on Facebook.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about why she set her novels in the Gilded Age time period and what inspired her to create the Val DeVere character.

Thoughts on writing and life for June 2023

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 15:41:08 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why writers need a personal manifesto to keep them on track.

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In Conversation With … Deborah Kalb, author

Wed, 17 May 2023 07:15:06 -0400

Deborah Kalb is the author of the forthcoming adult novel Off to Join the Circus (available on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble and Amazon) as well as three novels for kids: Thomas Jefferson and the Return of the Magic Hat, John Adams and the Magic Bobblehead, and George Washington and the Magic Hat.

Together with her father, Marvin Kalb, she co-authored Haunting Legacy: Vietnam and the American Presidency from Ford to Obama and she also has published other books on politics and government as well as working as a journalist for more than two decades covering Congress and politics.

Deborah’s book blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, which she started in 2012, features hundreds of interviews she has conducted with a wide variety of authors.

For more about Deborah, visit her website and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Goodreads and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about stepping out of the safe zone: the challenges and benefits of exploring a new genre.

Thoughts on writing and life for May 2023

Sun, 07 May 2023 15:52:43 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why writers must be willing to explore new genres with their writing.

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In Conversation With … Carissa Turpin, author

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:12:01 -0400

Carissa Turpin is the author of the novel, Doomsday Dani. Carissa grew up in a small Eastern Kentucky town where she fell in love with storytelling in all its forms.

She began teaching high school English in 2008 near her hometown, where she remained for ten years, before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona where she made the switch to teaching middle school.

In 2021, Carissa left Arizona and returned to Kentucky to continue teaching middle schoolers. She lives in Louisville with her miniature schnauzer puppy named after Leonardo DiCaprio and one too many books.

For more about Carissa, visit her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how she explored the challenges of the pre-teen and adolescent years through fiction.

Thoughts on writing and life for April 2023

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:04:40 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why we must stop believing that our age defines our possibilities.

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Thoughts on writing and life for March 2023

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:41:47 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to take the time to acknowledge our achievements and savor our successes.

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In Conversation With…Peter Berk, novelist and screenwriter

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:41:09 -0500

Peter Berk is the son of noted writer Howard Berk, whose credits included Columbo, Mission: Impossible and several novels and features.

Peter has co-written several screenplays with his father, and on his own has written a recently-optioned sci-fi/time travel TV pilot, seven scripts and five novels in the TimeLock series, the first of which was published in late 2022 and is available here.

He also co-authored a non-fiction book with actor Dick Van Patten that was published some 15 years ago. Peter lives in Southern California and is the proud father of two sons and one grandson, with another grandson and a granddaughter on the way the first half of 2023.

You can learn more about Peter and his novel here, or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the experience of collaborating with his father on creative projects, and the challenges and advantages of turning a screenplay into a book.

Thoughts on writing and life for February 2023

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:55:24 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to show our writing self some love on a consistent basis.

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In Conversation With … Tyler James Russell

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 08:20:53 -0500

Tyler James Russell is the author of When Fire Splits the Sky (2022), a novel, and To Drown a Man (2020), a poetry collection, both from Unsolicited Press.

His writing has been nominated for the Rhysling and Best of the Net, and has appeared or is forthcoming in Asimov’s Science Fiction, F(r)iction, Janus Literary, and the NonBinary Review, among others.

Tyler works as an educator and lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Cat and their children. You can find him at Tylerjamesrussell.com, on Twitter at @TJamesRussell, or on Instagram @_TJamesRussell.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how art shapes his life, and how his life experiences shape his art.

Thoughts on writing and life for January 2023

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:36:05 -0500

Just a few thoughts on why we need to match our goals and plans to our definition of writing success.

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In Conversation With … Ramona Reeves, author

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 07:12:55 -0500

Ramona Reeves’ interlinked story collection, It Falls Gently All Around and Other Stories (University of Pittsburgh Press), won the 2022 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and is set in Mobile, Alabama, where she grew up.

She has been awarded an AROHO fellowship, a residency at Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, a scholarship from Community of Writers, and the Nancy D. Hargrove Editors’ Prize. Ramona also has served as an associate fiction editor for Kallisto Gaia Press.

Her stories and essays have appeared in The Southampton Review, Bayou Magazine, Pembroke, Superstition Review, Texas Highways and others.

For more about Ramona, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the challenges and joys that are part of writing short stories.

Thoughts on writing and life for December 2022

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 08:12:37 -0500

Just a few thoughts on what three gifts we should give ourselves to foster our creative life.

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Thoughts on Writing and Life for November 2022

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 14:25:33 -0400

Just a few thoughts on why our most important goal as writers should be to connect with our readers.

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In Conversation With … Erica Bauermeister, author

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:12:14 -0400

Erica Bauermeister is the best-selling author of four novels, including The School of Essential Ingredients and the 2020 Reese’s Book Club pick The Scent Keeper.

She has also written a memoir entitled House Lessons: Renovating a Life and is the co-author of two readers’ guides to books: 500 Great Books by Women and Let’s Hear It For the Girls.

Erica’s fifth novel, No Two Persons, will be published in May 2023. Her books are available on Bookshop and other bookstores.

She lives with her husband in Port Townsend, WA.

For more about Erica, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about how a place can affect a writer’s sense of identity as well as the choices of what actions or non-actions the writer takes within that space.

Thoughts on Writing and Life for October 2022

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:26:23 -0400

Just a few thoughts on how an insignificant object from our past can become a guidepost for our writing life

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In Conversation With… Chante Thomas, author

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:47:25 -0400

Chante Thomas is a twenty-eight-year veteran fifth-grade teacher in Shaker Heights, Ohio and has been writing children’s stories over the span of her career.

In 2017, she decided it was time to bring her stories to life and published her first book, Where I’m From, sharing the geographic story of five diverse children with roots in the United States, Africa, and Asia.

Her second book, Go To School Tommy is about the power of a smile, and her third book, Sean and the Book Cures, told from a kid’s perspective, takes readers through the unforgettable year Covid-19 disrupted lives. Chante is currently finishing her fourth book, Sean and the Great Sacrifice, Can You Spare a Kidney?— a story about love and organ donation.

Chante is the mother of two sons and is a caregiver to her 88-year-old mother. Her desire is to inspire youth to not only read but to also encourage them to create, build and write their own stories yielding from their own personal adventures.

For more about Chante, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the role of books in helping children and adults better understand themselves, other people, and life events.

Thoughts on writing and life for September 2022

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 13:25:45 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the importance of developing a mission statement to guide you through your writing life.

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In Conversation With … Juliet Marillier, author

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 06:44:08 -0400

Juliet Marillier was born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is a graduate of the University of Otago and has had a varied career that included music teaching and performing. She now lives in a historic cottage in Western Australia, where she writes full time.

Juliet’s historical fantasy novels and short stories are published internationally and have won numerous awards. She is the author of twenty-four novels, including A Song of Flight (Warrior Bards), the Blackthorn & Grim series and the Sevenwaters series, as well as two collections of short fiction: Mother Thorn and Other Tales of Courage and Kindness and Prickle Moon. Juliet loves mythology, folklore and strong, complex characters. She is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.) When not writing, Juliet is kept busy by a small crew of rescue dogs.

In today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about the creative challenges and unexpected benefits of being an older writer.

For more about Juliet, visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Thoughts on writing and life for August 2022

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:26:55 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the importance of having the right role model at the right time for our writing life

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In Conversation With... Corie Adjmi, author

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:19:28 -0400

Corie Adjmi is the author of the short story collection Life and Other Shortcomings, which won an International Book Award, an IBPA Benjamin Franklin award, and an American Fiction Award, and the forthcoming novel, The Marriage Box, named a Must-Read New Book of 2022 that is due out in 2023.

Her prize-winning essays and short stories have appeared in dozens of journals and magazines, including HuffPost, North American Review, Indiana Review, Medium, Motherwell and Kveller, and she has been featured in Travel and Leisure, New York Magazine, The Hollywood Times, Parade and BuzzFeed.

When she is not writing, Corie does volunteer work, cooks, draws, bikes and hikes. She and her husband have five children and a number of grandchildren, with more on the way. She lives and works in New York City.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore the various challenges women face when pursuing the writing life: time constraints, family responsibilities, financial issues and their own self-doubts about their right to write.

For more about Corie, visit her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Thoughts on writing and life for July 2022

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 13:37:13 -0400

Just a few thoughts on how we can use our creative ability to free ourselves from negative thoughts and beliefs

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In Conversation With … Kathryn Schulz, author

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:18:57 -0400

Kathryn Schulz is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Being Wrong and her most recent book, Lost & Found—an insightful and moving exploration of grief and love, and how those two emotions have the power to change us, transform us, and expand our concept of who we are and how we can live.

Lost & Found grew out of “Losing Streak,” a New Yorker story that was anthologized in The Best American Essays.

She won a National Magazine Award and a Pulitzer Prize for “The Really Big One,” her article about seismic risk in the Pacific Northwest. Her work has also appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The Best American Travel Writing, and The Best American Food Writing.

A native of Ohio, she lives with her family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. For more about Kathryn, visit her website and follow her on Twitter.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore the concepts of loss and discovery, both from the personal perspective and from that as a creative.

Thoughts on writing and life for June 2022

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:03:50 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the need to protect the light of creativity. The power to do so rests with us: in our hands, in our minds, in our belief that we have something worth thinking, worth saying—something worth writing.

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In Conversation With … Adrienne Reiter, author

Wed, 18 May 2022 08:51:07 -0400

Adrienne Reiter is a communications specialist, writer, and author of three novels: Twist, Chosen, and her latest, Lounge Act that’s been called a “sexy thriller with attitude.”

She writes mystery, speculative, literary fiction, and, by her own admission, is a compulsive blogger.

She is also a co-host on the podcast, Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun, where she swaps terrible tales, and general ghoul talk with Leo Buckley of Books Inc. San Francisco and lead guitarist for Bay Area bands Penury and Hazzard's Cure. You can follow the podcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Adrienne holds a BA in Philosophy from Mills College and an MFA in Creative Writing from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She splits her time between San Francisco and Mendocino County, where her dog, Peaches, does bad things.

For more about Adrienne, visit her website at adriennereiter.com and follow her on Facebook at @areiterbooks, Twitter @adriennereiter and Instagram at adriennereiter.

In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the practical and psychological struggles we go through when making time for our writing life.

Thoughts on writing and life for May 2022

Wed, 04 May 2022 10:50:57 -0400

Just a few thoughts on the surprises and joys that come from sowing seeds in a literary garden.

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In Conversation With … Gregory Erich Phillips, novelist

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:41:04 -0400

Gregory Erich Phillips is the author of three award-winning novels: Love of Finished Years, The Exile and his most recent novel, A Season in Lights.

Gregory comes from a prolific literary family, and he carries on that tradition by writing aspirational stories through strong, relatable characters that transcend time and space, transporting readers into the world of his fiction.

Gregory is also an accomplished tango dancer and musician. For more about Gregory and his work, visit his website and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the idea of using fiction to create change in the real world through helping readers develop a greater understanding of other cultures and empathy for other people.

Thoughts on writing and life for April 2022

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 12:15:22 -0400

Just a few thoughts about the importance of staying focused on your goals, even if you think it’s too late for you to achieve them, because, after all, you never know.

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In Conversation With … Dana Spiotta, novelist

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:33:22 -0400

Dana Spiotta is the author of five novels: Lightning Field (2002), Eat the Document (2006), Stone Arabia (2011), Innocents & Others (2016), and her most recent, Wayward (2021) that was called by the New York Times a “virtuosic, singular and very funny portrait of a woman seeking sanity and purpose in a world gone mad.”

Dana has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize, the St. Francis College Literary Prize, and the John Updike Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

For more about Dana, visit her website.

In today’s conversation, we’ll discuss the impact of gender and age on writing—in terms of the types of topics covered, the depictions of female characters, and on creativity itself.

Thoughts on writing and life for March 2022

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 13:54:52 -0500

Just a few thoughts on how reaching the top (i.e., success) requires us to take one step after the other—without giving up.

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