Podcast appearances and mentions of Jane Smiley

Laila Lalami's fifth novel, The Dream Hotel, is a dystopian story for our time. Set in Los Angeles in the near-distant future, the novel follows Sara –– a museum archivist and mother — who just landed at LAX from London and is retained by the Risk Assessment Administration for a crime they believe she might commit based on data and algorithms the government uses to track its citizens through their dreams. Lalami, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, has been hailed a “maestra of literary fiction” by NPR. She joins Marrie Stone to talk about writing dystopian fiction during a time when reality might be moving faster than fantasy. She discusses her research process, her tendency to begin her novels in the middle and write to the outsides, how she trained to become a novelist by dissecting fiction, and much more. Along the way, Lalami references Jane Smiley's article on revision, which can be found here. For more information on Writers on Writing and to become a supporter, visit our Patreon page. For a one-time donation, visit Ko-fi. You can find hundreds upon hundreds of past interviews on our website. If you'd like to support the show and indie bookstores, consider buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. We've stocked it with titles from our guests, as well as some of our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find to an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on February 20, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Host: Marrie Stone Music: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Summary: Get ready to run into that one kid from high school in today's episode - Small Towns! Whether you're like Devin who grew up and still lives in small towns or like Holly who is a big city gal, these spaces are almost always pressure cookers. The intimacy of the community can make any character claustrophobic (especially if a serial killer is lurking) or euphoric with love; the past and the present intermingle in these places and nothing is anonymous, for better or worse.  Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:29): Holly discussed The Whisper Man by Alex North, a psychological thriller following Tom Kennedy and his young son, Jake, after they move to the small town of Featherbank after the tragic death of Tom's wife, Rebecca. Jake, a quiet and sensitive boy, soon begins to exhibit strange behavior - including talking to imaginary friends. When Neil Spencer, a young boy in town, goes missing in a similar way to the M.O. of serial Killer Frank Cater, detectives get involved to stop the madness. Holly's key takeaways were: Characters like detective Pete and Tom are haunted by their pasts, while Jake's odd behavior reflects how trauma can manifest in children. The novel delves into the lasting effects of pain and loss. The strained relationship between Tom and Jake mirrors the generational impact of Tom's own childhood with his abusive father, exploring how parental relationships shape identity and behavior. Featherbank is portrayed as a small, seemingly idyllic town, but one that is haunted by its history with "The Whisper Man" murders. This duality of small towns—where the veneer of safety masks a deeper darkness—creates a rich tension. The town's past crimes are embedded in its collective memory, affecting the attitudes of its residents and shaping the investigation into the new abduction.  Both Tom and Jake feel isolated in their own ways, but the story emphasizes the importance of connection and understanding in overcoming fear and loneliness. The father and son also grapple with their grief over Rebecca's death; their loneliness highlights the ways people cope with loss and how relationships can be rebuilt after tragedy. The Heart (15:24): Devin discussed Book Lovers by Emily Henry, a romance following NYC literary agent Nora Stephens as she and her sister Libby take a sabbatical to the tiny town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Once there, Nora runs into her arch-nemesis and brooding book editor  Charlie Lastra, who grew up in the town. Thrown together for a few weeks, the two decide to put aside their differences and work to make a well-known author's manuscript into a publishable book. But can their enmity last when they both clearly love books and this idyllic town so much? Devin's key takeaways were: The setting of Sunshine Falls is as Hallmark-y as the name would convey. The are friendly locals, quirky businesses, and a slower pace of life that contrasts directly with the New York lifestyles that Nora and Charlie are accustomed to now. The town also holds personal significance for Charlie; he grew up there. Nora is a literary agent and Charlie an editor, which not only gives them a ton in common but is grounds for their enmity. In Sunshine Falls, the Goode Books Store is a focal point, representing the literary charm of the town and serves as the backdrop for many scenes.  While it was a manuscript that made them dislike each other, it's another one that brings them together. Nora first met Charlie when pitching the blunt editor a manuscript she felt passionate about; he rebuffs her and criticizes the work. They both have their heels dug in that the other is wrong and has no taste, but as they collaborate on Dusty Fielding's latest work, they begin to bond. Hot On the Shelf (27:36): Devin: Puck & Prejudice by Lia Riley Holly: Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley What's Making Our Hearts Race (31:15): Devin: the final season of What We Do in the Shadows Holly: the Wicked movie   Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com   If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. ~Jane Smiley Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com

Amateur sleuth Evan Wycliff is a disillusioned divinity student who is fascinated by astrophysics and given up both. He's returned to his small-town farm roots in Southern Missouri. He is also disappointed in love. His beautiful fiancé was a brilliant Jewish scientist, a defense contractor who was killed in a rocket attack in Syria. These days Evan gets guest preacher gigs and uses his investigative skills as skip tracer for the local car and tractor dealership.In this second novel in the series, Evan counsels a boy who is afflicted with schizophrenia and has been accused of rape. Along with related abuses of the child welfare system, he uncovers a teen trafficking ring run out of a luxury casino resort by a Russian oligarch.“This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley.” - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel, credited with starting the new genre of young adult fiction. When Alcott (1832-88) wrote Little Women, she only did so as her publisher refused to publish her father's book otherwise and as she hoped it would make money. It made Alcott's fortune. This coming of age story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, each overcoming their own moral flaws, has delighted generations of readers and was so popular from the start that Alcott wrote the second part in 1869 and further sequels and spin-offs in the coming years. Her work has inspired countless directors, composers and authors to make many reimagined versions ever since, with the sisters played by film actors such as Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson. With Bridget Bennett Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of LeedsErin Forbes Senior Lecturer in African American and U.S. Literature at the University of BristolAndTom Wright Reader in Rhetoric and Head of the Department of English Literature at the University of SussexProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Louisa May Alcott (ed. Madeline B Stern), Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (William Morrow & Co, 1997)Kate Block, Jenny Zhang, Carmen Maria Machado and Jane Smiley, March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women (Library of America, 2019)Anne Boyd Rioux, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018)Azelina Flint, The Matrilineal Heritage of Louisa May Alcott and Christina Rossetti (Routledge, 2021)Robert Gross, The Transcendentalists and Their World (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022)John Matteson, Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father (W. W. Norton & Company, 2007)Bethany C. Morrow, So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix (St Martin's Press, 2021)Anne K. Phillips and Gregory Eiselein (eds.), Critical Insights: Louisa May Alcott (Grey House Publishing Inc, 2016)Harriet Reisen, Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women (Picador, 2010)Daniel Shealy (ed.), Little Women at 150 (University of Mississippi Press, 2022)Elaine Showalter, A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx (Virago, 2009)Simon Sleight and Shirleene Robinson (eds.), Children, Childhood and Youth in the British World (Palgrave, 2016), especially “The ‘Willful' Girl in the Anglo-World: Sentimental Heroines and Wild Colonial Girls” by Hilary EmmettMadeleine B. Stern, Louisa May Alcott: A Biography (first published 1950; Northeastern University Press, 1999) In Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production

Winner of 7 Book Awards in Literary Fiction - Included in the Prize-Winning Literary Fiction Series from LaPuerta Books and MediaIntrigue on the white sands of the Indian Ocean. From the award-winning author of Clifford's Spiral. A lonely widower from Los Angeles buys a tour package to East Africa on the promise of hookups and parties. What he finds instead are new reasons to live. Aldo Barbieri, a slick Italian tour operator, convinces Harry to join a group of adventuresome “voluntourists.” In a resort town on the Indian Ocean, Harry doesn't find the promised excitement with local ladies. But in the supermarket he meets Esther Mwemba, a demure widow who works as a bookkeeper. The attraction is strong and mutual, but Harry gets worried when he finds out that Esther and Aldo have a history. They introduce him to Victor Skebelsky, rumored to be the meanest man in town. Skebelsky has a plan to convert his grand colonial home and residential compound into a rehab center – as a tax dodge. The scheme calls for Harry to head up the charity. He could live like a wealthy diplomat and it won't cost him a shilling! Harry has to come to terms with questions at the heart of his character: Is corruption a fact of life everywhere? Is all love transactional? Harry Harambee's Kenyan Sundowner is an emotional story of expat intrigue in Africa, reminiscent of The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene and The Constant Gardener by John le Carré. Praise for Clifford's Spiral (Independent Press Awards 2020 Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction) We've seen and noted the comparison of this author by other reviewers to literary giants like Roth and Vonnegut. And we can't disagree. Yet we feel there may be yet another strata for Gerald Everett Jones, who arguably is doing the best work of his career. We predict that he lacks only a mention in the The New York Review of Books or, better yet, Oprah, to become a nationwide best-selling author. Five-plus stars to Clifford's Spiral, a true literary novel if ever there was one. We say in all seriousness that if you only read one novel this year, this should be it. - Don Sloan, Publishers Daily Reviews Preacher Finds a Corpse (NYC Big Book Awards 2020 Winner in Mystery, IPA 2020 Distinguished Favorite in Mystery, Eric Hoffer 2020 Finalist in Mystery) This is literature masquerading as a mystery. Carefully yet powerfully, Gerald Jones creates a small, stunning world in a tiny midwestern town, infusing each character with not just life but wit, charm, and occasionally menace. This is the kind of writing one expects from John Irving or Jane Smiley. - Marvin J. Wolf, author of the Rabbi Ben Mysteries, including A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn

In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. ~Jane Smiley Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com

La chronique de Josef Schovanec : "Le Laboratoire de Dexter", une série d'animation américaine créée par Genndy Tartakovsky. Le producteur de radio, auteur, scénariste de bande dessinée et journaliste français Philippe Collin pour ses livres : "Le barman du Ritz" et "L'Art du Cocktail par le barman légendaire du Ritz" de Frank Meier (Albin Michel). "Le barman du Ritz" : Juin 1940. Les Allemands entrent dans Paris. Partout, le couvre-feu est de rigueur, sauf au grand hôtel Ritz. Avides de découvrir l'art de vivre à la française, les occupants y côtoient l'élite parisienne, tandis que derrière le bar œuvre Frank Meier, le plus grand barman du monde. S'adapter est une question de survie. Frank Meier se révèle habile diplomate, gagne la sympathie des officiers allemands, achète sa tranquillité, mais aussi celle de Luciano, son apprenti, et de la troublante et énigmatique Blanche Auzello. Pendant quatre ans, les hommes de la Gestapo vont trinquer avec Coco Chanel, la terrible veuve Ritz, ou encore Sacha Guitry. Ces hommes et ces femmes, collabos ou résistants, héros ou profiteurs de guerre, vont s'aimer, se trahir, lutter aussi pour une certaine idée de la civilisation. La plupart d'entre eux ignorent que Meier, émigré autrichien, ancien combattant de 1914, chef d'orchestre de cet étrange ballet cache un lourd secret. Le barman du Ritz est juif. "L'Art du Cocktail par le barman légendaire du Ritz" : Imaginé par le légendaire Frank Meier, qui officia derrière le bar du Ritz de 1921 à 1947, ce guide, publié pour la première fois en langue française, est une référence. Véritable bible de la mixologie, il révèle les secrets de fabrication de plus de 300 cocktails, dont les créations de Meier lui-même, qu'il servait à Roosevelt, Hemingway ou Cole Porter. C'est aussi un délicieux manuel de savoir-vivre, prodiguant conseils pour les morsures de serpent ou pour les paris hippiques. Le coup de coeur de Gorian Delpâture : « Un métier dangereux » de Jane Smiley (Rivages). 1851, Monterey, Californie. L'Ouest, le vrai. Prématurément veuve - délivrée d'un mari qu'elle a suivi sans passion depuis son Michigan natal -, la jeune Eliza devient prostituée dans une maison bien tenue, sous l'égide d'une patronne soucieuse du bien-être de ses « filles », la très sage Mrs Parks. C'est le temps de l'indépendance, des amitiés confraternelles, de la découverte de soi et de la littérature. Mais voilà qu'une série de meurtres viennent faucher de jeunes consoeurs. Face à l'indifférence des autorités, et inspirée par les aventures du détective Dupin, d'Edgar Allan Poe, Eliza décide de mener l'enquête. La grande Jane Smiley revient célébrer avec malice l'élan de rébellion féminin et signe un western souriant, une enquête à la Agatha Christie au temps de la ruée vers l'or. Le talk-show culturel de Jérôme Colin. Avec, dès 11h30, La Bagarre dans la Discothèque, un jeu musical complétement décalé où la créativité et la mauvaise foi font loi. À partir de midi, avec une belle bande de chroniqueurs, ils explorent ensemble tous les pans de la culture belge et internationale sans sacralisation, pour découvrir avec simplicité, passion et humour. Merci pour votre écoute Entrez sans Frapper c'est également en direct tous les jours de la semaine de 11h30 à 13h sur www.rtbf.be/lapremiere Retrouvez tous les épisodes de Entrez sans Frapper sur notre plateforme Auvio.be : https://auvio.rtbf.be/emission/8521 Et si vous avez apprécié ce podcast, n'hésitez pas à nous donner des étoiles ou des commentaires, cela nous aide à le faire connaître plus largement.

St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley talks with Debbie Monterrey about her new book 'Lucky' which is based on her hometown.

Notes and Links to John Glionna's Work      For Episode 236, Pete welcomes John Glionna, and the two discuss, among other topics, his journalistic awakenings and the writers who influenced him, his kinship with renegades and underdogs, what it was like embedding with a small town football team, the interesting characters and rich lives lived in rural areas, and salient themes like Native traumas, pride, declining enrollments in schools and on sports teams and the rises and falls of life in small-town América.       John M. Glionna is an award-winning journalist who has traveled the world as a newspaper and magazine writer. After twenty-six years at the Los Angeles Times he now works as a freelance writer. He is the author of Outback Nevada: Real Stories from the Silver State. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and Outside and has been included in Best American Sports Writing and Best Los Angeles Times Foreign Reporting.   Buy No Friday Night Lights: Reservation Football on the Edge of America   John's Website At about 2:20, John talks about his winding road to becoming a big reader-a “lover of the word,” and some inspirational words that put him on the path to journalism  At about 9:00, John talks about formative and transformative writers for him, including Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson, and Rick Bass At about 13:00, John gives some tips on clever title choices At about 14:10, John details connections to Ernest Hemingway and lessons learned  At about 16:10, John explains the greatness of Hunter Thompson, and talks about “being in the mind” of the great writers At about 17:30-don't follow the Hunter S. Thompson diet! At about 18:55, John charts his viewing of Brown Buffalo and his own “Gonzo Journalism” At about 20:00, John charts his time at The Los Angeles Times, including what made a “Glionna story” At about 24:00, Pete lays out the book's Preface and the two discuss Glenn Stout's influence and support for John At about 28:40, John talks about seeds for the book At about 31:20, Pete and John discuss McDermitt, Nevada, and John's connections to it and how the book developed At about 35:00, John highlights Coach Egan and Coach Smith and his admiration for them that led him to continue embedding with the McDermitt High School Football Team At about 37:40, John quotes Jane Smiley in talking about the vagaries of small town America-, including its true isolation and “Shakespearean” likeness At about 40:00, John charts how his book progressed, including real-time blogs and controversy that followed in the town At about 41:45, Pete and John lay out some of the book's plotline and exposition and complicating factors At about 47:15, Pete and John talk about some dynamic characters in the book: real-life coaches and players At about 48:30, John responds to Pete's question about writing about winners  At about 51:10, Pete and John discuss the ways in which the football team coaches had to be accommodating  At about 56:10, Herman Herford is discussed as an early chronicler of McDermitt, which helped John in his work, At about 58:50, “Cowboy Bob” is discussed At about 1:01:20, Jack Smith, coach, is discussed At about 1:02:25, Pete and John talk about the book's Epilogue and Native sites and the fight to restore dignity At about 1:06:25, The Crutcher family and their strength and contemporary changes in Paiute-Shoshone reservation life are highlighted At about 1:09:50, John describes giving each person in the book their “own story” At about 1:12:10, John gives out contact info and encourages readers to be in dialogue    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    I am very excited about having one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review-I'm looking forward to the partnership! Look out for my interview with José Vadi, my most recent.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!       This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 237 with Ghassan Zeinnedine, professor of creative writing at Oberlin College, and co-editor of the creative nonfiction anthology Hadha Baladuna: Arab American Narratives of Boundary and Belonging. His standout debut story collection is Dearborn. The episode will go live on June 4.  Lastly, please go to https://ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley's new novel “Lucky” is set in St. Louis and reflects some of the author's upbringing. The story follows Jodie Rattler, a folk musician who rises to fame through changing times. Smiley talks about why she set the book in her hometown and how the novel reflects her journey as a writer.

Smiley's latest book, Lucky, takes readers back to the 1960s — through the life of a spirited folk musician as she rises to fame.

Book 12: Lucky by Jane Smiley by

Rina Ayuyang, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Jane Smiley, moderated by Blaise Zerega The sweeping landscapes of the American West offer writers a broad canvas on which to set epic stories. Three masterful storytellers will transport us through the rich and complex history of California and Colorado as only the best fiction can. Buy the books here 

Author Jane Smiley has been hailed as one of the Great American Novelists of the 20th century. Her remarkable career spans more than 30 books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece A Thousand Acres and The Last Hundred Years trilogy.At this exclusive in-conversation event with host David Francis, Smiley looks back on her incredible life and career and gives audience members an exciting preview of her upcoming novel, Lucky: a novel about music, womanhood and finding yourself. This event was recorded on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at The Wheeler Centre. The offical bookseller was The Paperback Bookshop. Featured music is 'Traveling Again' by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.Support the Wheeler Centre: https://www.wheelercentre.com/support-us/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill welcomes award-winning author Bonnie Jo Campbell to the show. Bonnie is the author of The Waters, a novel, which was the Today Show's January selection for their “Read with Jenna” Book Club. The Waters was also featured in Oprah Daily's list of “Best Books of 2024.” Her novel also received starred reviews in Booklist and Foreword, as well as raves from Ron Charles at The Washington Post, from Jane Smiley in the Los Angeles Times, and from The Christian Science Monitor staff. Roxane Gay's newsletter The Audacity featured The Waters as an anticipated book. Campbell's other novels include Once Upon a River, a National Bestseller which was adapted into a full-length feature film released to international claim in 2020, and Q Road. Her critically acclaimed short fiction collections include American Salvage, which was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, Women and Other Animals, winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction; and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters. She was a 2011 Guggenheim Fellow whose other honors include a Pushcart Prize, the Eudora Welty Prize, and the Mark Twain Award.

Ojai CARES (Cancer Awareness, Resources, Education & Support) was founded in 2013 by Susan Kapadia after her own bout with breast cancer. After volunteering with cancer support groups in Santa Barbara she realized that Ojai residents needed/deserved their own. In the decade-plus since, Ojai CARES has built a sense of community of the people afflicted by this dread disease, while also advocating for patient care, and working with oncologists and other doctors. Since its inception, Ojai CARES has served 900 people. Susan talked about her years running the popular World Flavor Cafe, using recipes adapted from her years in the food business, the stresses of receiving her diagnosis while running the restaurant, and her quest to find support for herself, and to support others in turn. She also talked movingly about some of the memorable people whose lives touched hers. We did not talk about Don Larsen's perfect World Series no-hitter, Jane Smiley's upbringing, or Prince Harry's memoir. You can learn more about OjaiCARES at https://ojaicares.org/

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues  ​ Jane Smiley, whose latest novel is “A Dangerous Business,” now out in trade paperback, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The author of seventeen adult fiction novels, two short story collections, five non-fiction works plus several young adult novels, Jane Smiley is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “A Thousand Acres,” and more recently The Last Hundred Years Trilogy. She current teaches creative writing. “A Dangerous Business” takes us to Monterey, California in the early 1850s as Eliza Ripple, newly widowed and still only eighteen, winds up at a house of prostitution in order to survive and have a life of her own. The book follows her as she meets a friend who works out of a similar house for women, and the two embark on the trail of a murderer of women. Recorded January 20, 2023. Her next book, :Luck, will be published in Spring, 2024. Complete 35-minute Interview   Harlan Coben in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, discussing his novel, Fool Me Once, which is now a Netflix miniseries. Recorded March 26, 2016 at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, California. Harlan Coben is the best-selling author of 28 fast-paced novels of suspense. His novel, Fool Me Once, features a protagonist suffering from PTSD. Eight of his novels feature an amateur detective in the sports field named Myron Bolitor. He also has a young adult series featuring that character's nephew, and a children's book titled The Magical Fantastical Fridge. His novel Tell No One became an acclaimed French film. Complete Interview. Review of “The Wiz” at BroadwaySF Golden Gate Theatre through February 11, 2024.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Actors Reading Writers. Two Readings: Pyramid Schemes. Berkeley City Club, Zoom, Feb. 5, 6:45 pm. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  Big Data by Kate Attwell, February 15 – March 10, 2024, Toni Rembe Theater. Aurora Theatre  Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle, February 9 – March 10. Streaming:  March 5-10. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for upcoming productions. Berkeley Rep Cult of Love by Leslye Headland, January 28 – March 3, Roda Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming productions. Boxcar Theatre. See website for upcoming shows. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions. BroadwaySF: The Wiz, January 17 – February 11, Golden Gate. MJ, January 30 – February 25, Orpheum. Broadway San Jose:  Chicago, February 23-25. Mean Girls, March 19-24. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). See website for events. Center Rep: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, directed by Jeffrey Lo. January 6-28. Central Works  Boss McGreedy written and directed by Gary Graves, March 2-13. Cinnabar Theatre. Dream House by Eliana Pipes, February 9-25. Club Fugazi. SF Sketchfest, various artists, January 19 – February 4. Dear San Francisco returns February 9. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Upcoming season to be announced. Curran Theater: See website for upcoming live events. Single night events in 2024 include Fran Lebowitz, Laurie Anderson, William H. Macy, John Cusack, Joe Jackson. Custom Made Theatre. In hibernation. Cutting Ball Theatre. Variety Pack 2024. Staged readings, directors shorts, cabaret shows. February 1-18. 42nd Street Moon. Falsettos, February 29 – March 17, 2024. Golden Thread  Upcoming season to be announced. Hillbarn Theatre: RENT, February 8 – 24. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. (NO MORE) adjustments: A Black Queer Woman Evolves in Real Time, written and performed by Champagne Hughes, May 1-5, 2024. Fort Mason. Magic Theatre. Miriam and Esther go to the Diamond District by Andrea Gordon, Rainbow Zebra Productions, January 18-28, 2024. Marin Theatre Company Bees & Honey by Guadalis Del Carmen, February 15 – March 10. Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein, May 9 – June 2, 2024. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Unpacking in P'Town by Jewelle Gomez, March 1 – 31. See website for theatre classes. Oakland Theater Project.  Cost of Living by Martyna Majek, March 1-24, 2024. Pear Theater. For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl. February 9 – March 3, 2024. Presidio Theatre. See website for schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: Everybody's Talking About Jamie, June 1 – 23, 2024. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse. My Home on the Moon by Minna Lee, January 25 – February 24. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. Sign My Name to Freedom: The Unheard Songs of Betty Reid Soskin, March 29 – April 13. San Jose Stage Company: People Where They Are by Antony Clarvoe. January 31 – February 25, 2024.. Shotgun Players.  Babes in Ho-lland by Deneen Reynolds Knott. January 15 – February 10. (extended) South Bay Musical Theatre: A Little Night Music, January 27 – February 17, 2024. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino  Billy, written and directed by John Fisher, February 1-18, 2024. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, January 17 – February 3,  Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – January 25, 2024: Jane Smiley – Harlan Coben appeared first on KPFA.

Jane Smiley has written close to 20 novels, including the best seller, King Lear inspired A Thousand Acres, for which she received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992. 

Chris and Christy talk with Sitong Che about her many creative projects, including a fun and challenging story concept she's been working on. We discuss multiple approaches to getting to know your main characters, how putting characters in conflict can teach you about your story, and some of the differences between performance-based art and stories on the page. We also talk about Sitong's collaborative process and why both Chris and Christy believe in giving their fictional characters “free will.” (Thanks, Sitong, for that and so many other insights, and for bringing us your story!) This one was so much fun to record and covers a lot of ground!   Shout outs: The film The Secret Lives of Dentists (The Secret Lives of Dentists - Rotten Tomatoes) based on the amazing novella The Age of Grief by Jane Smiley, to which Christy gives a million thumbs up) Situational comedies, including How I Met Your Mother and Friends Links and such:  Sitong's most recent blog post: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YoHKNTI2O_jekGu_tW8aaA Sitong's standup comedy club channel: 【虾图脱口秀】oncall午夜凶铃 (youtube.com) Link to Chris' Novels: Systemic and Host: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9VDQ8C ⁠ Christina's website: ⁠https://www.christinascheuer.com⁠ Chris' Author Website: ⁠https://chrislodwigauthor.com⁠ Christina's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashmeadowedits⁠ Chris' Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLodwigAuthor⁠ Christina's email: cscheuer@gmail.com Chris' email:  ChrisLodwig@gmail.com

Noe Olbés trabaja en la editorial Sexto Piso, es fotógrafa y una gran lectora. Le gusta la idea de poder encontrarse el mar al final de una calle, las derivaciones tróspidas del inglés, leer en aviones,Vivian Gornick y la gente que te pregunta de vuelta. Viene para hablar sobre Alexa Chung, tocar un poco de hierba, naifes, intuiciones, Jane Smiley, obras no tan maestras, manteles de hule, botes de nuez moscada, border collies y libros. LIBROS:La mujer singular y la ciudad — Vivian GornickApegos feroces — Vivian GornickMaterial de construcción — Eider RodríguezGozo — Azahara AlonsoRelatos — Deborah EissenbergLos suicidas del fin del mundo — Leila GuerrieroHeredarás la tierra — Jane SmileyLa edad del desconsuelo — Jane SmileyThe Guest — Emma ClineLa luz difícil — Tomás GonzálezLa tormenta perfecta — Sebastian JungeeSiempre el mismo día — Dave NichollsSoltero y sin compromiso — Mike GayleSeducción y traición — Elizabeth HardwickNoches insomnes — Elizabeth HardwickLa otra hija — Annie ErnauxLa mujer helada — Annie ErnauxPura pasión — Annie Ernaux PELÍCULAS Y SERIES Qué le pasó al rey de los delfines (Netflix)Anatomía de una caída (cines)Decision to leave (Movistar)Orgullo y prejuicio (Netflix)Requiem por un sueño (Filmin)La Bendición (Prime)

This week on From the Front Porch, it's time for another Literary Therapy session! Our literary Frasier Crane, Annie, is back to answer more of your reading questions and dilemmas. If you have a question you would like Annie to answer in a future episode, you can leave us a voicemail here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 454” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode) or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: Flight by Lynn Steger Strong Wintering by Katherine May The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (unavailable to order) Joy Enough by Sarah McColl (unavailable to order) Beartown by Frederick Backman Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund (unavailable to order) Tinkers by Paul Harding Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout Backwater by Joan Bauer (unavailable to order) Landline by Rainbow Rowell The Family Game by Catherine Steadman The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore “Santaland Diaries” by David Sedaris (featured in Holidays on Ice) “A Christmas Story” by Walter Dean Myers (145th Street) (unavailable to order) God Speaks Through Wombs by Drew Jackson Miracle on 10th Street by Madeleine L'Engle (unavailable to order) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard Schneider The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan New Girl in Little Cove by Dahmnait Monaghan Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon (unavailable to order) Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews 84, Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff Love & Saffron by Kim Fay The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley (unavailable to order) Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva (unavailable to order) From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here.  Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Cammy Tidwell, Chanta Combs, Chantalle C, Kate O'Connell, Kristin May, Laurie Johnson, Linda Lee Drozt, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Stacy Laue, Stephanie Dean, Susan Hulings, and Wendi Jenkins.

  In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. ~Jane Smiley Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com

Are you up to the 50k-word marathon challenge that starts on Nov.1 aka NaNoWriMo? The NaNoWriMo special panelists suggest just keep on writing without any interruptions even if you hit the proverbial wall. Make November your writing month. "This is my writing month," author Jean Davis said. Davis will be participating in the 18th year of the challenge. That sentence resonated with all the panelists because as Jane Smiley said,  "Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist. It's perfect in its existence. The only way it could be imperfect would be to NOT exist."  Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't punish yourself, and have fun. Enjoy the camaraderie. "I try to keep the momentum going," author John Winkelman said. The panelists are authors- Vera West, Emma Palova, Jean Davis, John Winkelman, Andrew Smith, and Ed Bentley. Listen in for a chance to win some free E books, and mainly to win the challenge. Sound editing and effects by Douglas Kelly of Evolve Solutions, LLC. Sponsored by Doc Chavent, Emma Palova, Ed Bentley, John Winkelman, and Andrew Smith.

In this episode, I'll reveal the backstory of my participation in Fast Fall Women. But first, what was I thinking? I went from no one knowing about my experiences being raised by a mom with manic depression – to today, the world being able to hear one of my most vulnerable moments for $18.95.  Here's the truth: Today marks a milestone for me as a published author in a book that features these writing goddesses: Amy Tan, Jane Smiley, Caroline Leavitt, Bobbie Ann Mason, Honor Moore, Darien Hsu Gee, Ilene Beckerman, Lynn Peril as well as new writers like myself. It's a big deal and this is why you should tune into today's episode especially if you've ever wanted to tell your story (or feel scared to).  Imagine harnessing the whimsical power of your childhood imagination and translating it into the real world as a mompreneur. That's the journey I've been on, and in this episode, I share the heart and soul of it all. Listen in as I explore how motherhood can transform your relationship with your imagination and how you can navigate through the ups and downs of life using this powerful tool.  In today's episode, you will also hear the backstory to Fertile Imagination: my own book coming out on October 31, 2023. Prefaces tend to be overlooked but mine left an impression on other moms who are looking for more bubble wrap to protect their sanity, so I figured I'd share it with you. It took courage to tell this story, and I hope it resonates with you, giving you the strength to face your own high stakes and standards. Let's connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/. Send me a “hi” DM on Instagram letting me know you caught this week's episode. I'd love to know who is listening. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: What does it feel like to be published? How did Melissa pitch her story, Imagine It Forward? Why Melissa wrote the book, Fertile Imagination When imagination can come in handy: Harnessing the power of childhood imagination in motherhood and entrepreneurship Is imagining too big possible? What it takes to write a book for two years without losing hope… Growing up with a single mom with manic depression Relying on imagination as a child  How imagination helps navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and motherhood The journey of writing a book, how the vision sustained through massive life changes, and the reawakening of imagination SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who wants to pursue bigger dreams for herself and needs a guide with on-the-ground experience. Similar episodes: https://www.melissallarena.com/what-gina-barreca-has-to-say-about-feminism-humor-and-power-episode-119/  https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/  Supporting Resources: Fertile Imagination Waitlist: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  Fast Fallen Women: https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Fallen-Women-Essays-NonFiction/dp/1954907788/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=fast+fallen+women&qid=1693938711&sprefix=fast+falln%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact  – available for purchase on October 31, 2023! Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. My debut non-fiction book for moms like you! Fertile Imagination is the jet engine you need to go after what you really, really want. You don't have to give up your dreams, shrink them, or hide them to be a great mom anymore! There's flexibility in how you pursue anything—your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The ceiling on what you go after is waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids across any path—you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's the perfect kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!  In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book—featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes—we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Dive in if you've ever asked yourself: Why do I want more? What about my big ideas? When do I get to play?  Where can I find the energy? Who else is going for it and getting it done? How can I stay relevant and keep growing? What if I don't want to wait until my kids are gone? Praise For Fertile Imagination Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. Book participants/podcast guests “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, Administrator in a Museum, Queens, NY  

Joan Frank, Dorothy Lazard, and Jane Smiley, moderated by John Freeman Each of us has a different relationship with the books we read…and write. That is no less true if you've just published your first, as legendary librarian Dorothy Lazard has, than it is for Joan Frank, with a dozen publications under her belt. It's also true, of course, for Pulitzer Prize winners like Jane Smiley. Each of these authors has had a decades-long love affair with books; in this session, they'll tell you not only what they were reading, but how it affected them and their work. Buy the books here 

City Lights, in conjunction with Heyday Books, presents Jane Smiley in conversation with Steve Wasserman to celebrate the publication of "The Questions that Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom" by Jane Smiley, published by Heyday Books. Smiley's new book offers essays on some of the aesthetic and cultural issues that mark any serious engagement with reading and writing. She dives into the complexities of character and history and how she is inspired by literature of all kinds in her own writing. She shares her analysis and research on the works of classic authors such as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and many others. Smiley shares her personal journey as a writer moving from Iowa to California and reflects on her findings within the diverse literature of the state, which often highlights issues of race, class, and sex. Jane Smiley is a novelist and essayist. She has won various awards for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "A Thousand Acres." She has written for numerous magazines and newspapers such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, Harper's, and the Nation. Her most recent novel, "A Dangerous Business," was published in 2022. Steve Wasserman is the publisher of Heyday Books. He is a former editor-at-large for Yale University Press, editorial director of Times Books/Random House and publisher of Hill & Wang and The Noonday Press at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. He has written for numerous publications, including The Village Voice, Threepenny Review, The Progressive, and many others. You can purchase copies of "The Questions that Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom" directly from City Lights here: https://citylights.com/new-nonfiction-in-hardcover/questions-that-matter-most-reading-wr/. This was a virtual event hosted by Peter Maravelis and made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation.

In this talk from 1991—a mere year before her Pulitzer Prize win—novelist Jane Smiley discusses the relationship between writing and motherhood.

Episode 4 brings us the incredible writing talent that is Ann Patchett, an "auto-buy" author for our hosts and the 2023 National Humanities Medal recipient for "putting into words the beauty, pain and complexity of human nature." The three start their conversation by diving into Elin and Ann's respective years at the Iowa Writers' Workshop before exploring  Ann's writing process, her friendship with Lucy Grealy, and her ability to nail human relationships on the page. They also discuss the release of Ann's latest novel Tom Lake, as well as Ann's favorite writers and what it's like owning Parnassus Books in Nashville.A special thank you to our Episode Sponsors:Nantucket Looms - limited time, 15% off with code BOOKS15Triple Eight DistilleryAnn Patchett Reading List:The Magician's Assistant by Ann PatchettBel Canto by Ann PatchettTruth & Beauty by Ann PatchettState of Wonder by Ann PatchettThese Precious Days by Ann PatchettCommonwealth by Ann PatchettThe Dutch House by Ann PatchettTom Lake by Ann PatchettWhat else are we reading in this episode:The Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniThen We Came to the End by Joshua FerrisAutobiography of a Face by Lucy GrealyOur Town by Thornton WilderOther authors mentioned:Jane Smiley, Anna Quindlen, Tim Winton, Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Frank Conroy, Allan Gurganus, Russel Banks, Grace Paley, John Irving, Lucy Grealy, Colson Whitehead, Colleen Hoover, Joyce Carol Oates, Tom Hanks, Kate DiCamillo, Elizabeth McCracken, Louise Erdrich, Elizabeth Strout, Harlan Coben, Andrew Sean Greer, Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood, and V, formerly Eve Ensler. Follow/Subscribe to the 'Books, Beach, & Beyond' podcast now to stay current on new episodes.And find us on Instagram at @booksbeachandbeyondHappy Reading!

If you're missing your weekly dose of the Roy family like us, here are some books that we think will help fill the void after the finale of Succession. As always, we'll end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Succession (TV) Gossip Girl (TV) Veep (TV) Taylor Swift Eras Tour Ann's picks: The Heiresses by Sara Shepard (buy from Bookshop) - Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (buy from Bookshop) The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur (buy from Bookshop) - Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (buy from Bookshop) Halle's picks: Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (buy from Bookshop) - The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (buy from Bookshop) A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (buy from Bookshop) - King Lear by William Shakespeare (buy from Bookshop) Trust by Hernan Diaz (buy from Bookshop) What We're Reading This Week: Ann: Going Zero by Anthony McCarten (buy from Bookshop) - Michael Chrichton books - John Grisham books - Robin Cook books Halle: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (buy from Bookshop) - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (buy from Bookshop) Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

# 63 The Questions That Matter Most with Jane Smiley. We talk about writing, spelling and grammar and learning how to read. We mention Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, Shakespeare, Alice Munro and how to kill!WELCOME TO Jane Smiley at the Henry Miller Library, July 29.We will focus on her latest book: :"The Questions That Matter Most"LIST OF JANE SMILEY'S BOOKS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDERSupport the show_________________________________________________This podcast is a production of the Henry Miller Memorial LibraryBig Sur, CAFaceBookInstagramLet us know what you think!SEND US AN EMAIL!

Left to right: Norah Piehl and Bay Area Book Festival Executive Director Cherilyn Parsons. Photo: Norah Piehl. Norah Piehl, who is the Director of Literary Programs at the Bay Area Book Festival, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The Bay Area Book Festival is in its 9th season and runs Saturday and Sunday May 6th and 7th in various venues around Berkeley, including the Berkeley Public Library and Freight & Salvage. Among the guests are singer and activist Joan Baez, novelist and cyber-expert Cory Doctorow, playwright V (Eve Ensler), historian Adam Hochschild, and novelists Dave Eggars and Jane Smiley. Norah Piehl has been the Director of LIterary Programs since November, 2021 and before that served as the Executive Director of the Boston Book Festival. She is a freelance writer, and the author of a series of books titled “Social Issues Firsthand. Website for the Bay Area Book Festival. The post Norah Piehl, Bay Area Book Festival 2023 appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Bookwaves Don Winslow, author of “City of Dreams,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded via zencastr on April 12, 2023 Don Winslow is the author of 22 novels, many of which focus on crime and the criminal underworld, including The Cartel, The Force, Savages (which became an Oliver Stone film), and The Border. His latest novel,  “City of Dreams”, continues the saga of “City on Fire,” which told of a mob war using as a template the story of the Trojan War, The Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid and other works. In this latest novel, we follow the character of Danny Ryan, (Aeneas) as he finds himself in Hollywood, and falling in love with one of filmdom's biggest stars, which tells the story of Aeneas and Dido, with forays into the Odyssey and the greek tragedies of Aeschylus and Europides.  The third volume, which shifts the locale to Las Vegas, is scheduled to be published in April, 2024. Don Winslow has stated that these will be his final novels. Don Winslow also produces political videos aimed at saving the American democracy from insurrectionists and fascists, and is a vital force on Twitter. Complete Interview. Photos: Richard Wolinsky.     Artwaves Left to right: Norah Piehl and Bay Area Book Festival Executive Director Cherilyn Parsons. Photo: Norah Piehl. Norah Piehl, who is the Director of Literary Programs at the Bay Area Book Festival, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The Bay Area Book Festival is in its 9th season and runs Saturday and Sunday May 6th and 7th in various venues around Berkeley, including the Berkeley Public Library and Freight & Salvage. Among the guests are singer and activist Joan Baez, novelist and cyber-expert Cory Doctorow, playwright V (Eve Ensler), historian Adam Hochschild, and novelists Dave Eggars and Jane Smiley. Norah Piehl has been the Director of LIterary Programs since November, 2021 and before that served as the Executive Director of the Boston Book Festival. She is a freelance writer, and the author of a series of books titled “Social Issues Firsthand. Complete 30-minute interview Website for the Bay Area Book Festival.   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Standard Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  Lists of guests at the upcoming Book Festival, May 6-7, 2023, event calendar and links to previous events. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.   Monthly Calendar. On-line events only. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for past streams. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre  Poor Yella Rednecks: Vietgone 2 by Qui Nguyen, March 30 – May 7, Strand. Aurora Theatre  Cyrano by Edmond Rostand, adapted by Josh Costello, April 7 – May 7. Awesome Theatre Company. Check website for upcoming live shows and streaming. Berkeley Rep English by Sanazz Toosi, March 31 – May 7, Peets Theatre. Boxcar Theatre. See website for calendar listings. Brava Theatre Center: See website for events. BroadwaySF: Pretty Woman: The Musical, April 26-30, Orpheum Broadway San Jose: Riverdance, 25th Anniversary Show, May 12-14. 1776, May 6-21. California Shakespeare Theatre (Cal Shakes). No 2023 season scheduled. See website for events calendar. Center Rep: In The Heights, May 27  – June 24. Central Works The Dignity Circle a new scheme by Lauren Smerkanich June 24 – July 23. Cinnabar Theatre. Tosca, June 9 – 25. Contra Costa Civic Theatre To Master the Art by William Brown and Doug Frew, April 21 – May 21, 2023. Curran Theater: Into The Woods, direct from Broadway, June 20-25, 2023. Custom Made Theatre. Tiny Fires by Aimee Suzara, postponed to a later date in 2023. Cutting Ball Theatre. Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancin' Trees in the Ravine by W. Fran Astorga. April 13 – May 21. 42nd Street Moon. The Scottsboro Boys, May 4 – May 21, Gateway Theatre. Golden Thread  See website for ongoing special events. Landmark Musical Theater.  Hair, May 6 – June 4, at the Landmark, 533 Sutter, SF. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In The Evening By The Moonlight by Traci Tolmaire, co-created and directed by Margo Hall, June 15 – July 2, Young Performers Theatre, Fort Mason, San Francisco. Magic Theatre. The Ni¿¿er Lovers by Mark Anthony Thompson, May 3 -21. See website for other events at the Magic. Marin Theatre Company Where Did We Sit On The Bus? by Brian Quijada, May 4 – 28, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Locusts Have No King by C. Julian Jimenez, April 7 – May 14. The Confession of Lily Dare by Charles Busch, May 12 – June 11. Oakland Theater Project.  Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, May 26 – June 18. Pear Theater. Pear Slices 2023,  Original short plays. April 20 – May 14. PianoFight. Permanently closed as of March 18, 2023. Presidio Theatre. See website for upcoming productions Ray of Light: Spring Awakening In Concert, June 8-10, Victoria Theatre. Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, September 8 – October 1, Victoria Theatre. The Rocky Horror Show, Oasis Nightclub, October 6  – 31. See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko. San Francisco Playhouse.  Clue, based on the screenplay, March 9 – April 27, 2023. SFBATCO See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: Grand Horizons by Bess Wohl, April 5 – 30. 2023. Shotgun Players. Triumph of Love by Pierre de Marivaux, must close April 30. Streaming on demand April 26 – May 7. South Bay Musical Theatre: Singin' In the Rain, May 13 – June 3. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Rhino   Pericles by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by John Fisher, May 26 – 27. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand, New performances most Wednesdays. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. A Distinct Society by Kareem Fahmy, April 5 – 30, 2023, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  Home by George Saunders, April 5-29, Z Below. See schedule for  one-night readings and streaming performances. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season, starting February. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Playbill List of Streaming Theatre: Updated weekly, this is probably the best list you'll find of national and international streaming plays and musicals. Each week has its own webpage, so scroll down. National Theatrical Streaming: Upcoming plays from around the country. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org             The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – April 27, 2023: Don Winslow – Norah Piehl appeared first on KPFA.

In this talk from 1991—a mere year before her Pulitzer Prize win—novelist Jane Smiley discusses the relationship between writing and motherhood.

Good morning, hello, today we're talking about ice cream flavored like a feeling. Not to brag, but I think you're going to want to stop by our ice cream shop… And then, the books! Today, we've got a prize-winning King Lear reimagining, a twisty suspenseful heist story, and a scammer book that Kayla was obsessed with. Thank you so much for listening! You can buy your BATC merch here: https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch. Browse and shop all the books we've discussed on this episode and past episodes at https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Check out our website for more information about the fan club, any anything else at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter there, and send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com-------------> Libby's pick: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (10:40-21:22) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/168687/a-thousand-acres-by-jane-smiley-introduction-by-lucy-hughes-hallett/ On Libby's TBR: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson Becky's pick: Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh (21:23-27:29) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/queen-of-thieves-beezy-marsh?variant=40828468658210 On Becky's TBR: The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel Kayla's pick: Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft (27:30-36:20) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711068/stone-cold-fox-by-rachel-koller-croft/ On Kayla's TBR: River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions are our own.

Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels including “A Thousand Acres,” which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and the “Last Hundred Years Trilogy.” Her latest, “A Dangerous Business,” tells the remarkable story of the California gold rush and a pair of sex-worker sleuths who track down the culprit behind a series of disappearances.

Jane Smiley, and writing gay lives from the past with Tom Crewe and Nell Stevens

“Between you and me, being a woman is a dangerous business.” So says Madam Parks to young Eliza Ripple, who is now working as a prostitute in Gold Rush-era California after her brutish husband was killed in a bar fight. Eliza knows this truth all too well. But instead of letting that truth paralyze her, she leans into the danger that freedom brings. When some of her fellow working girls go missing, Eliza and friend Jean take it upon themselves to investigate the murders — a mystery the male authorities in Monterey are content to ignore. Jane Smiley's newest novel, “A Dangerous Business,” is murder mystery lite, topped with a hefty dollop of feminist energy. Both Smiley and her heroines are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” but unlike Poe, Smiley gives her characters a delightful sense of possibility. This week, on Big Books and Bold Ideas, MPR News host Kerri Miller talked with Smiley about the California landscape that so often gives shape to her books , how her discovery of the an obscure religions group influenced this story, and how movement unknots problems, both in writing and in life. Guest: Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including “A Thousand Acres,” which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Her new book is “A Dangerous Business.” To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or RSS. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations. 

Author: Jane Smiley Book: A DANGEROUS BUSINESS: A Novel Publishing: ‎ Knopf (December 6, 2022) Synopsis (from the Publisher): From the Pulitzer Prize-winning, best-selling author of A Thousand Acres: An amazing “mash-up of a Western, a serial-killer mystery and a feminist-inflected tale of life in a bordello” (The Washington Post).   In 1850s Gold Rush California two young […] The post JANE SMILEY – A DANGEROUS BUSINESS: A Novel appeared first on KSCJ 1360.

Jane Smiley's latest book, A Dangerous Business, is a departure from her previous work. She joins this episode to discuss the new novel. Then host Charity Nebbe tours the world's largest collection of nativity scenes in Washington, Iowa.

Glass Onion, Rian Johnson's sequel to Knives Out, centers on a billionaire who's invited an assortment of so-called "disrupters" to his private island for a long weekend getaway to play out a murder mystery game. The writer/director talks about satirizing tech moguls and influencers and the murder mysteries that inspired him.Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews two mystery novels: A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley, and Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures.

As 2022 nears its end, we wanted to know what the year was like for books.5 Things Sunday host James Brown sat down with USA TODAY book editor Barbara VanDenburgh to talk about the year and what books were the most interesting, the best sellers and the ones that left you wanting more. According to VanDenbugh, 2022 was full of "smart" books. She brought a list of five she thinks should be remembered in 2022.For more on the best books of 2022:Best of 2022: See which books USA TODAY critics gave perfect reviews this yearCormac McCarthy's brilliant 'Stella Maris,' new Jane Smiley: 5 must-read books this weekUSA TODAY Book Club: Celeste Ng's 'Our Missing Hearts' is a book that demands discussionFollow James Brown and Barbara VanDenburgh on Twitter.If you have a comment about the show or a question or topic you'd like us to discuss, send James Brown an email at jabrown@usatoday.com or podcasts@usatoday.com. You can also leave him a voicemail at 585-484-0339. We might have you on the show.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“One of my favorite places to take a little walk around is the public cemetery, which is on a little hill that overlooks the bay. And you know, if you ever wanted to be buried somewhere, that's the place to be buried. And right across the street from it, and a little ways down the road is this beautiful canyon you can walk up. The trees are covered with Spanish moss, and there's fog. And so it's perfect place — if you believe in ghosts — to see one.”   A murder mystery set in 1850's Monterey, California, Jane Smiley's latest novel, A Dangerous Business, is a bit of a departure for the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. She joins us on the show to take readers behind the scenes of her new book (as well as some of her earlier work) and talk about the books and writers who've inspired her along the way (including what she learned from reading Charles Dickens), what she loves about novels and more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.   Featured Books (Episode): A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley Moo by Jane Smiley A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley The Hundred Years Trilogy (Some Luck, Early Warning and Golden Age) by Jane Smiley The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel by Jane Smiley The Transylvanian Trilogy by Miklos Banffy (Vol 1) and (Vol 2 + 3) The Kellys and the O'Kelleys: Or, Landlords and Tenants by Anthony Trollope   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Collective by Alison Gaylin News of the World by Paulette Jiles   Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

It's a bonus clips episode!We're at the 2022 Miami Book Fair, talking to the most interesting authors, poets, writers with new works published this year. In celebration of our partnership with the Miami Book Fair, we grabbed some clips from last year's Miami Book Fair episodes. MIAMI BOOK FAIRhttps://miamibookfair.com/https://www.miamibookfaironline.com/Joshua Jay - Episodes 25 and 26SpotifyApple PodcastsHow Magicians Think by Joshua Jayhttps://www.amazon.com/Misdirection-Magicians-Think-Joshua-Jay/dp/1523507438/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+magicians+think&qid=1634843723&sr=8-1How Music Works by David Byrne:https://www.amazon.com/How-Music-Works-David-Byrne/dp/0804188939/ref=asc_df_0804188939/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312057344057&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13081381195153154006&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031148&hvtargid=pla-354840765753&psc=1Maggie Smith - Episodes 28 and 29SpotifyApple PodcastsThe Life, By Carrie Fountain:https://www.amazon.com/Life-Penguin-Poets-Carrie-Fountain/dp/0143136011Goldenrod, by Maggie Smith:https://www.amazon.com/Goldenrod-Poems-Maggie-Smith/dp/1982185066/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Goldenrod&qid=1636694888&s=books&sr=1-1 Kathie Klarreich - Episode 30SpotifyApple PodcastsHear Us:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FS825T9 Jane Smiley - Episodes 31 and 32SpotifyApple PodcastsJane's Latest Book, Perestroika in Paris:https://www.amazon.com/Perestroika-Paris-novel-Jane-Smiley/dp/052543609X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LBNAJWTCPCRU&keywords=perestroika+in+paris+by+jane+smileyJane's Book About Dickens:https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Dickens-Life-Penguin-Lives-ebook/dp/B000OCXGBY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1638297220&sr=1-3Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens:https://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Friend-Introduction-Edwin-Whipple-ebook/dp/B07HQY57RH/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=Our+mutual+friendDenise Hamilton - Episodes 33 and 34SpotifyApple PodcastsThey Shoot Horses, Don't They by Horace McCoyhttps://www.amazon.com/They-Shoot-Horses-Serpents-Classics/dp/184668739X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=They+Shoot+Horses+Dont%27+they&qid=1639687721&s=books&sr=1-1Denise's Book, Speculative Los Angeles:https://www.amazon.com/Speculative-Los-Angeles-Denise-Hamilton/dp/1617758566Edwidge Danticat - Episode 53SpotifyApple PodcastsA Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid:https://www.amazon.com/Small-Place-Jamaica-Kincaid/dp/0374527075/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GERRCMMYZ7YJ&keywords=a+small+place&qid=1651179527&sprefix=a+small+place%2Caps%2C283&sr=8-1Learn More About Edwidge Danticat:https://edwidgedanticat.com 

Matthew Sweet gathers together four Proust fans from very different backgrounds - the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Jane Smiley, the psychotherapist, Jane Haynes, Christopher Prendergast, who has a translation of the book and written Living and Dying with Marcel Proust, and from France, the writer, Marie Darrieussecq. The actor Peter Marinker tackles the difficult task of giving an English voice to Proust. The novel In Search of Lost Time is a modernist masterpiece which offers a symphonic account of what it meant to be alive in France as the 19th century became the 20th. Producer: Zahid Warley You can find a collection of programmes on the Free Thinking website exploring different aspects of modernism around the world https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07p3nxh On Sunday Nov 20th at 5.30pm and for a month afterwards BBC Radio 3's curated selection of Words and Music inspired by the writing of Proust will be available on BBC Sounds.

Elaine Clayton shares powerful protection techniques for empaths in her new book, The Way of The Empath: How Compassion, Empathy & Intuition Can Heal Your World. Are you an empath looking better to understand yourself and your place in the Universe? The Way of the Empath explores ways to understand empathy and how to use mystical and spiritual. And the imaginative insight to better understand our place in the Universe. You'll learn how to see the unseen and welcome the mysteries of life through psychic events and fun encounters. To be an empath is an art form - discovering how our perceptions guide and inform us, shape us, and at times limit us requires extraordinary awareness. It also requires a lion's skills and strength because it takes real courage to be empathic. The Good news is that there are ways to protect yourself while living with an open heart, and this book shows you how to use creative visualization for that purpose. We talk about How to put yourself in a state of receivingDefining an empathRediscovering y our creative spiritWhy are some people more sensitiveUnconditional loveHelping an empathic childQuiet KnowingEmpathy vs. EgoThe importance of dreamsTelepathic communicationWhy do the smallest moments matter most? Elaine Clayton is an internationally known author, artist, teacher, intuitive healing arts practitioner and Reiki Master in NYC, CT, and Atlanta. Her books on intuitive intelligence and creativity include THE WAY OF THE EMPATH (Spring 2022/Hampton Roads), MAKING MARKS: Discover the Art of Intuitive Drawing /Simon and Schuster and ILLUMINARA INTUITIVE JOURNAL. She is also the author and illustrator of many books for children, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley and Gregory Maguire, author of the famous novel the smash hit Broadway play is based on, WICKED. Other new titles include books in the trendy A LITTLE BIT OF series, A LITTLE BIT of ANGELS, and A LITTLE BIT OF FAIRIES. www.elaineclayton.com

With Shakespeare's King Lear as it's source material, both the book by Jane Smiley and the film adaptation directed by Jocelyn Moorehouse of A Thousand Acres sets the action on an Iowa farm.  In the 1997 film,  Jason Robards plays the raging patrirach of the Cook family, whose bequest of his land to his three daughters, played by Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, raises tensions and unearths long hidden family secrets. Dan and Vicky discuss the star studded melodrama along with lots of recently seen including Bullet Train, BJ Novak's Vengeance, Jordan Peele's Nope, modern slaher They/Them, and the Netlix series Uncoupled.  After a minor hiatus we're back!   Leave us some feedback on all our social media outlets.  FB:  Hot Date Podcast Twitter: @HotDate726 Insta:  hotdatepod

In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. ~Jane Smiley Check out John Lee Dumas' award winning Podcast Entrepreneurs on Fire on your favorite podcast directory. For world class free courses and resources to help you on your Entrepreneurial journey visit EOFire.com

The Talk of Iowa Book Club has been reading A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley. Host Charity Nebbe discusses the book's impact with the author, as well as two expert readers, including one who has adapted the book into an opera premiering next month.

It takes real courage to be empathic. Trusting and working with the emotions, feelings, and knowledge we pick up intuitively is an art form. Elaine Clayton is here to help us understand empathy and use that special insight to find out about ourselves, our place in the universe, and learn to be protected and confident as we explore. Elaine Clayton is an internationally known author, artist, teacher, intuitive healing arts practitioner and Reiki Master in NYC, CT and Atlanta. Her books on intuitive intelligence and creativity include The Way of the Empath; Making Marks: Discover the Art of Intuitive Drawing; and Illuminara Intuitive Journal. She is also the author and illustrator of many books for children, including Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley and Gregory Maguire, author of the popular novel that birthed the smash hit Broadway play, Wicked. Other new titles include books in the A Little Bit Of series, including A Little Bit of Angels and A Little Bit of Fairies. Find out more about Elaine and her work at elaineclayton.com.