Podcasts about novelists

During World War II, the US government asked the Japanese American citizens it interned two questions: Would you serve in the US armed forces wherever ordered? And would you swear “unqualified allegiance” to the U.S. and forswear any allegiance to Japan's emperor? Those two so-called loyalty questions animate acclaimed novelist Karen Tei Yamashita's latest book, which explores that historical period of state-sanctioned violence against immigrants and citizens alike — and how this notion of “loyalty” divided, antagonized, imprisoned and expelled Japanese Americans during World War II, with long-term ramifications. Following three generations of Japanese Americans before, during and after internment, the novel is formatted as the archived letters, poetry and oral histories of Japanese Americans real and imagined. We'll talk with Yamashita about her own family's story and about the novel's unfortunate relevance today. It's called “Questions 27 & 28.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling novelist Daniel Silva — creator of the Gabriel Allon series — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a conversation that starts with the craft of spy fiction and quickly becomes something closer to a threat assessment. Silva's newest plot turns on drones, and he's blunt that this isn't speculative: he believes it's a matter of time before a drone carries out an assassination or a mass-casualty attack. He talks about the strange responsibility of writing a fictional event that could plausibly happen next month, why he deliberately withholds visual detail so readers build the scene themselves, and what he learned reporting out how modern kidnappings and ransom negotiations actually work. The darker current running underneath is his read on American intelligence: the FBI is no longer the same place, the U.S. is jettisoning allies and hollowing out its agencies, and Silva poses the question a novelist is uniquely positioned to ask — if you're the GRU right now, where would you most want an asset placed? He notes that the best assets often don't know they're assets, that NATO held a crisis meeting about Trump, and that this is precisely the moment to be putting the screws to a vulnerable Putin, since Ukraine has victory in sight and isn't desperate for any deal. The conversation turns personal when Chuck asks how Silva handles Israel's collapsing global reputation in a series built around an Israeli intelligence officer. Silva says the shift was entirely foreseeable, that he has no interest in writing about Gaza, and that what saddens him most is the "fortress Israel" mindset — a country founded on European-style socialist ideals now convinced it can go it alone, siloed from the world, while antisemitism surges globally in a way he warns only ever needs the right set of circumstances to reignite. He and Chuck range across the forces reshaping the century: giant corporations approaching the power of nation-states, a new generation of the ultra-wealthy who simply don't believe in philanthropy, AI's capacity to wipe out the knowledge economy, and Silva's conviction that the next great political crisis may be a climate-driven natural disaster — noting that the last major El Niño produced famines that killed millions, that today's migration patterns are already climate-driven, and that people are dying right now as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid. He's unsparing on writing and AI), amused and appalled that Trump has turned the National Mall into a mess with a reflecting pool gone "Kermit green," and closes on the question every prolific novelist gets asked and rarely answers honestly: does he ever actually rest? Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Gabriel Allon is ageless 02:45 How much do you put yourself into Gabriel Allon? 03:30 Gabriel’s character allows Daniel to pursue things he’s interested in 05:15 Potentially creating a spin-off series 06:30 Vibe of the book series is European art 07:15 How did you learn about modern kidnappings and negotiations 09:15 Not writing with great visual detail to allow readers to imagine it 10:15 We are going to have a major incident triggered by drones 11:15 Ukraine has become the drone specialists of the world 12:00 Drones will eventually carry out an assassination or mass casualty event 13:15 Any trepidation creating a fictional event that could actually happen? 14:15 There was an emergency drone incident in Copenhagen 14:45 Europeans are already very nervous about impacts of drones 15:30 There are cameras everywhere in modern society 16:45 The level of criminality & corruption in the world is staggering 18:00 The current FBI is no longer the same place 18:45 We are jettising allies and destroying our intelligence agencies 19:30 If you are the GRU… where would you want an asset to be? 20:30 There are different types of intelligence assets 21:00 Some of the best assets don’t realize they are assets 22:15 Crisis meeting held at NATO headquarters about Trump 25:30 We should be putting the screws to Putin right now, he’s vulnerable 26:15 Ukraine has victory in sight, they aren’t desperate for a deal 27:00 How do you tackle Israel’s reputation in the world in the books? 29:30 The changes to Israel’s reputation were foreseeable 30:00 Don’t want to write about the war in Gaza 31:00 Is all hope for a two state solution gone? 33:45 There’s a “fortress Israel” mindset, they think they can do it alone 34:15 Is Gabriel Allon still a zionist? 35:00 Israel was founded with tenets of European style socialism 36:00 It’s sad seeing Israel becoming so siloed from the world 37:30 There’s been a major resurgence of antisemitism 39:15 It only takes the right set of circumstances to reignite antisemitism 40:30 Giant corporations are becoming as powerful as nation states 42:00 The new generation of ultra wealthy don’t believe in philanthropy 42:45 AI has the ability to wipe out the knowledge economy 44:00 The next great political crisis might be a climate driven natural disaster 44:45 The last great El Nino created massive famine, killing millions 45:30 The current migration patterns are climate driven 46:00 People are dying as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid 49:30 Trump has turned the national mall into a mess 50:15 The reflecting pool is now “Kermit green” 51:30 If you could write your next book about anything, what would it be? 52:30 Don’t think he could write non-fiction, too many novels to write 54:15 If you use AI to do your writing, then that isn’t writing 57:30 Anthropic CEO gave a reasoned answer to AI military applications 58:00 Could have an AI version of yourself that lives forever 59:15 Do you ever take a rest from writing?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with a story that seems small and turns out to be a perfect miniature of everything wrong with this Pentagon: a Blue Angels flyover at Pensacola Beach came in too low, the pilot who made the honest mistake felt terrible about it — and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, without bothering to establish a single fact about what happened, seized the moment to gloat and own the libs. Chuck calls Hegseth an absolute clown and a fake soldier, argues the incident is a window into a Pentagon where the boss cares more about winning an online argument than about the safety of the people he commands, and where the entire "military testosterone" discourse — Hegseth's fixation on creating "supertrooper" fighting men is both dumb and genuinely dangerous. His verdict: a great American military culture is being actively degraded. He extends the same argument to ICE, where the violence has been entirely predictable — the officer involved in the latest shooting had enormous red flags in his background, and the agency appears to have no meaningful vetting process at all. He also explains why, contrary to much of the commentary, he wasn't alarmed by Trump's primetime election-denial address: it was a nothingburger. Trump has no evidence, which is why he keeps turning to cranks — his endorsement of Mike Lindell tells you everything — and there's no policy response attached to his own foreign-interference allegations, since China has faced no sanction whatsoever for what Trump claims it did. He argues American elections are extraordinarily hard to overturn precisely because the system is decentralized, that Trump is too lazy to become a Putin or a Mao… A more disciplined president would frighten Chuck far more. Chuck sees a forever war taking shape in Iran: the strategy amounts to throwing kinetic weight at the problem and hoping the regime collapses, while Iran fights the asymmetric war it always planned, targeting Gulf states and now civilian survival infrastructure — hitting desalination plants could trigger a crisis lasting years — and nobody in Washington actually knows how to win. He closes with a genuinely important profile of Undersecretary Elbridge Colby, the intellectual architect of the new right's foreign policy and a favorite of JD Vance, whose vision of American retreat from its allies would effectively be the policy of a President Vance: Colby has trashed Mark Carney's "middle power" strategy and declared that no country is entitled to the American defense industry — which, notes, misses that buying military hardware is a 30-year bet on trusting an ally, and middle powers who conclude they can be coerced by Washington will simply take their money somewhere else. Quick hits on a messy Wisconsin governor's race (Tony Evers built no infrastructure and left no obvious heir in one of the country's most misunderstood swing states) and Tuesday's Arizona primary round things out. Then, bestselling novelist Daniel Silva — creator of the Gabriel Allon series — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a conversation that starts with the craft of spy fiction and quickly becomes something closer to a threat assessment. Silva's newest plot turns on drones, and he's blunt that this isn't speculative: he believes it's a matter of time before a drone carries out an assassination or a mass-casualty attack. He talks about the strange responsibility of writing a fictional event that could plausibly happen next month, why he deliberately withholds visual detail so readers build the scene themselves, and what he learned reporting out how modern kidnappings and ransom negotiations actually work. The darker current running underneath is his read on American intelligence: the FBI is no longer the same place, the U.S. is jettisoning allies and hollowing out its agencies, and Silva poses the question a novelist is uniquely positioned to ask — if you're the GRU right now, where would you most want an asset placed? He notes that the best assets often don't know they're assets, that NATO held a crisis meeting about Trump, and that this is precisely the moment to be putting the screws to a vulnerable Putin, since Ukraine has victory in sight and isn't desperate for any deal. The conversation turns personal when Chuck asks how Silva handles Israel's collapsing global reputation in a series built around an Israeli intelligence officer. Silva says the shift was entirely foreseeable, that he has no interest in writing about Gaza, and that what saddens him most is the "fortress Israel" mindset — a country founded on European-style socialist ideals now convinced it can go it alone, siloed from the world, while antisemitism surges globally in a way he warns only ever needs the right set of circumstances to reignite. He and Chuck range across the forces reshaping the century: giant corporations approaching the power of nation-states, a new generation of the ultra-wealthy who simply don't believe in philanthropy, AI's capacity to wipe out the knowledge economy, and Silva's conviction that the next great political crisis may be a climate-driven natural disaster — noting that the last major El Niño produced famines that killed millions, that today's migration patterns are already climate-driven, and that people are dying right now as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid. He's unsparing on writing and AI), amused and appalled that Trump has turned the National Mall into a mess with a reflecting pool gone "Kermit green," and closes on the question every prolific novelist gets asked and rarely answers honestly: does he ever actually rest? Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to draw parallels between the arguments in modern American politics to the argument between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev in the infamous “kitchen debate” and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:15 Pensacola Beach is the home of the Blue Angels 03:15 Low flyover from Blue Angels generated massive controversy 03:45 Hegseth has allowed unsafe flyovers in the past 04:15 Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon has been awful 05:00 Hegseth used the flyover to try to “own the libs” 05:45 The low flyover at the beach was an honest mistake by the pilot 07:30 Online discourse about flyover was both sides trying to prove their point 08:30 Hegseth didn’t even bother to figure out the facts about the incident 09:00 The pilot felt terrible about the mistake, while Hegseth gloated 11:00 Why Chuck isn’t alarmed by Trump’s election denial primetime speech 11:45 Trump has tested constitutional boundaries unlike any other president 13:30 Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell says everything 14:00 Trump doesn’t have evidence of fraud, he turns to election denial cranks 15:15 Trump’s speech was a big fat nothingburger 16:30 Trump wanted government to interfere in the 2020 election 17:30 There’s no policy response to Trump’s allegations about foreign interference 18:30 China hasn’t received any sanction or response to allegations 20:00 Trump has lackeys cherry pick facts to try to sew mistrust in elections 22:00 It is extraordinarily difficult to overturn an American election 22:45 The electoral system is decentralized making it harder to meddle with 23:30 A president more disciplined than Trump would be a bigger worry 24:30 We need to repair structural weaknesses in the democracy 25:15 Trump is too lazy to become a dictator like Putin or Mao 26:00 Trump has his sycophants… but they all fear jail too 27:15 Trump wants other people to risk themselves to keep him in power 28:30 We’re on the road to a “forever war” in Iran 29:00 The plan is just to throw kinetic weight & hope the regime collapses 29:45 Iran’s whole strategy is asymmetric, targeting Gulf states 30:15 Iran is now targeting civilian survival infrastructure 30:45 Hitting desalination plants could create a yearslong crisis 31:30 Administration keeps doubling down on the same strategy 33:30 Nobody in Washington knows how to win the war 34:30 Pete Hegseth is an absolute clown… a fake soldier 35:00 The military testosterone discourse is both dumb and dangerous 36:00 Undersecretary Elbridge Colby has a big role in shaping policy 37:30 Colby wants America to retreat from the world & our allies 38:30 Colby has been embraced by JD Vance & the new right 39:15 Colby’s policies would be those of a President JD Vance 40:30 Allies realize they can be coerced by America 42:30 Colby trashed the “middle power” strategy of Mark Carney 43:00 Colby says nobody is entitled to the U.S. military industry 44:00 Buying military hardware is a 30 year bet on trusting an ally 45:00 Middle powers will look elsewhere to buy their military equipment 46:15 Hegseth wants to create testosterone driven “supertroopers” 47:00 Women aren’t being offered a similar screening 48:00 Jesse Watters comments on testosterone were beyond awful 48:30 Most watched cable host was making sexual assault jokes 49:15 Military has had a longstanding issue with sexual assault 50:00 Young men are marketed testosterone from influencers & now government 51:00 Taking outside testosterone shuts down natural production of it 51:45 Taking testosterone has major negative side effects 53:00 Our great military culture is being destroyed by Trump 53:30 The violence from ICE officers has been entirely predictable 54:15 DHS under Trump never deserves the benefit of the doubt 55:15 Officer involved in shooting had massive red flags in his background 56:00 ICE doesn’t appear to have any vetting process for recruits 1:00:00 Wisconsin governor’s race has become a political mess 1:01:00 Tony Evers didn’t build a strong infrastructure around him 1:01:30 Evers didn’t set up an obvious heir in the Democratic party 1:03:00 The party establishment hasn’t responded to all parts of the base 1:03:45 Wisconsin is one of the most misunderstood swing states 1:05:00 Democrats in Wisconsin have to make the political center comfortable 1:07:30 Arizona primary coming up on Tuesday 01:14:00 Daniel Silva joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15:00 Gabriel Allon is ageless 01:16:45 How much do you put yourself into Gabriel Allon? 01:17:30 Gabriel’s character allows Daniel to pursue things he’s interested in 01:19:15 Potentially creating a spin-off series 01:20:30 Vibe of the book series is European art 01:21:15 How did you learn about modern kidnappings and negotiations 01:23:15 Not writing with great visual detail to allow readers to imagine it 01:24:15 We are going to have a major incident triggered by drones 01:25:15 Ukraine has become the drone specialists of the world 01:26:00 Drones will eventually carry out an assassination or mass casualty event 01:27:15 Any trepidation creating a fictional event that could actually happen? 01:28:15 There was an emergency drone incident in Copenhagen 01:28:45 Europeans are already very nervous about impacts of drones 01:29:30 There are cameras everywhere in modern society 01:30:45 The level of criminality & corruption in the world is staggering 01:32:00 The current FBI is no longer the same place 01:32:45 We are jettising allies and destroying our intelligence agencies 01:33:30 If you are the GRU… where would you want an asset to be? 01:34:30 There are different types of intelligence assets 01:35:00 Some of the best assets don’t realize they are assets 01:36:15 Crisis meeting held at NATO headquarters about Trump 01:39:30 We should be putting the screws to Putin right now, he’s vulnerable 01:40:15 Ukraine has victory in sight, they aren’t desperate for a deal 01:41:00 How do you tackle Israel’s reputation in the world in the books? 01:43:30 The changes to Israel’s reputation were foreseeable 01:44:00 Don’t want to write about the war in Gaza 01:45:00 Is all hope for a two state solution gone? 01:47:45 There’s a “fortress Israel” mindset, they think they can do it alone 01:48:15 Is Gabriel Allon still a zionist? 01:49:00 Israel was founded with tenets of European style socialism 01:50:00 It’s sad seeing Israel becoming so siloed from the world 01:51:30 There’s been a major resurgence of antisemitism 01:53:15 It only takes the right set of circumstances to reignite antisemitism 01:54:30 Giant corporations are becoming as powerful as nation states 01:56:00 The new generation of ultra wealthy don’t believe in philanthropy 01:56:45 AI has the ability to wipe out the knowledge economy 01:58:00 The next great political crisis might be a climate driven natural disaster 01:58:45 The last great El Nino created massive famine, killing millions 01:59:30 The current migration patterns are climate driven 02:00:00 People are dying as a direct result of cutting humanitarian aid 02:03:30 Trump has turned the national mall into a mess 02:04:15 The reflecting pool is now “Kermit green” 02:05:30 If you could write your next book about anything, what would it be? 02:06:30 Don’t think he could write non-fiction, too many novels to write 02:08:15 If you use AI to do your writing, then that isn’t writing 02:11:30 Anthropic CEO gave a reasoned answer to AI military applications 02:12:00 Could have an AI version of yourself that lives forever 02:13:15 Do you ever take a rest from writing? 02:16:30 ToddCast Time Machine July 24, 1959 02:17:00 Nixon and Krushchev host the “Kitchen Debate” 02:18:00 The countries were showing off their way of life - Capitalism vs Communism 02:18:45 Soviets set up a display in New York to show off their society 02:19:30 Khrushchev believed history would belong to the communists 02:20:00 The answer to the Soviet display was a model of an American home 02:20:45 The argument was that a middle class worker could afford that home 02:21:15 America showed it offered equality of opportunity, not outcome 02:22:00 Krushchev and Nixon debated knowing the world would hear it 02:23:00 Krushchev didn’t believe Americans actually lived that well 02:23:30 Nixon argued that competition inspired innovation and growth 02:25:00 Market capitalism proved to be the more dynamic economic system 02:25:30 There are echoes of the Kitchen Debate in modern American discourse 02:27:00 The Soviet Union disappeared, the debate hasn’t 02:27:15 Ask Chuck 02:27:30 Is MLB lockout avoidable? The state of baseball card collecting? 02:38:00 Is Trump’s erosion of norms a form of the incrementalism you champion? 02:41:30 What rights are D.C. & Puerto Rico residents still missing beside representation? 02:47:15 What goes into a decision to run for office? 02:50:45 MAGA just a rework of Reagan’s slogan? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turning a lifelong dream into a published reality.Marketing-consultant-turned-thriller-writer Michael Wendroff shares his fascinating journey of being raised within a literary family – surrounded by manuscripts and legendary authors like Robert Ludlum – before carving out his own successful career in marketing. He discusses how the pandemic finally provided the opportunity to overcome a lifetime of procrastination and pen his debut novel, What Goes Around. Michael offers invaluable insight into the traditional publishing process, the essential role of literary agents, and the importance of perseverance when receiving editorial feedback. We explore the 'self-actualising' power of fulfilling a lifelong creative dream and the positive impact it has on mental and physical wellbeing, while Michael also provides practical advice for aspiring writers, from exercising the 'writing muscle' daily to the necessity of self-promotion in the modern publishing landscape.Connect with Michael here.Buy books by Creativity Found guests here.You might also like:From Nomad to Novelist with Douglas RobbinsBlending Fact and Fiction with Shirley NovackMedicine and Mysteries with Tammy EulianoSupport the showFollow @CreativityFoundPodcast on InstagramWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, herePodcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books. About the guest author: Julie Carrick Dalton is a New England journalist and farmer. Her debut novel WAITING FOR THE NIGHT SONG launched in January, 2021 as a CNN, USA Today, Newsweek, Parade, and Buzzfeed Most Anticipated 2021 Book, and was an Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Books of the Month. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Electric Literature, The Chicago Review of Books, Orion Magazine, Lit Hub, and other publications. She contributes to DeadDarlings, The Writer Unboxed, and GrubStreet's writer's blogs. Her second novel, THE LAST BEEKEEPER, was released in 2023. Mom to four kids and two dogs, Julie also owns and operates a 100-acre farm. When she isn't writing or digging in the dirt, you can probably find her kayaking in New Hampshire or walking in the woods hunting for mushrooms. About the host: Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!) Tune in and reach out: If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories.  If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime.  The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community!  Be well and keep reading, Holly @hollylynnpayne on IG Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. Tell your friends. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynehost, author, writing coachwww.hollylynnpayne.com

What happens when the promise of higher education no longer delivers economic security? New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber argues that millions of college graduates increasingly face the same insecurity that has long confronted traditional working-class Americans. In this conversation, he explains why workers from Starbucks baristas to Hollywood writers are embracing collective action, and why artificial intelligence may deepen that transformation.

Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code alexoconnor at https://huel.com/alexoconnor (Minimum $50 purchase).For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: ⁠https://www.alexoconnor.com⁠.Chris Hadfield is a retired Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, test pilot, and CSA astronaut. As the first Canadian to perform extravehicular activity in outer space, he has flown two Space Shuttle missions and also served as commander of the International Space Station. Get Chris's book Final Orbit.TIMESTAMPS:(0:00) Have We Lost Interest in Space Travel? (3:56) What Is There To Learn In Space? (12:01) Is Space Exploration National Or Global? (18:00) Will Civilians Need Training To Go To Space? (22:35) The Psychological Challenges of Space Exploration (26:28) Are Astronauts Thrill Seekers? (34:33) Writing Fiction As An Astronaut (42:58) How Chris Became a Novelist (50:32) The Biggest Risk Chris Has Ever Taken (53:09) How Chris Tackles FearCONNECT:My Website YouTubeInstagramTikTok⁠TwitterFacebookCONTACT:Business email: contact@alexoconnor.comBrand enquiries: David@modernstoa.co

 George Saunders' latest novel takes readers into a journey of the soul this time quite literally. The Booker Prize-winning author talks with host Krys Boyd about the book, which takes on greed, capitalism and questions of good and evil from the perspective of a being who must transport a soul to the afterlife. It's called “Vigil.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

British director Christopher Nolan discusses his biggest cinematic blockbuster yet: The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and more, in his retelling of Homer's epic poem about the warrior Odysseus's battles with ancient Greek monsters like the Cyclops, Circe and the Sirens on his quest to return to his family after the Trojan War.We talk with Tom Kiehl, CEO of the industry body UK Music, about the government's recent announcement of plans ‘to turn up the music business,' with new powers and investment. Is it something new or a rehash of old ideas? A new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder has just been released on Netflix. Samira is joined by author Tracy Chevalier and Laura Ingalls Wilder's biographer Pamela Smith-Hill to discuss the series and the enduring appeal of the stories.Candice Carty-Williams' breakthrough 2019 novel Queenie became a bestseller, made the publishing industry sit up and was adapted into series for Channel 4. Now she is back with her trademark blend of comedy and politics with Queenie is Working on It, a sequel which explores topics of fertility, sex and body image for a young black woman in contemporary Britain. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Andrea Kidd

6/13/26, Megan Zinn -- Co-Host Nancy Gertner, U.S. Dst Ct Judge (ret) & Harvard Law Professor: what the recent Supreme Court's recent decisions mean for democracy, the future, & all of us. Daniel Mason, the superlative, award-winning novelist on a nationwide book tour -- tonight at the Odyssey Books in South Hadley-- on “Country People.” It's Mayors Monday w/ Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the ban/moratorium on data centers in his city & the $2million/yr in tax revenues one (!) could bring; then, summer in the City. “And Death Shall Have No Dominion”— the community's response this weekend. Kemper Carlsen, Clinical Director, Fisher Home Hospice in Amherst: hospice & end-of- life care—what it is; also, their 20th anniversary & a $100,000 endowment campaign.

Debut novelist Tara Menon on writing friendship as a life-shaping bond, the emotional architecture of grief, and researching the natural world for her novel Under Water. You'll learn Why a platonic friendship can shape a life as profoundly as any romance How to build tension in a story when the reader already knows what's coming. What an unexpected sea creature reveals about writing the bonds between women. The difference between endless research and knowing just enough to write the scene. Why fiction demands a kind of surrender that criticism never asks for. How grief for a lost friend and grief for a vanishing natural world can become one story. When self-doubt is evidence you're taking the work seriously. Why cutting a novel down to its essentials can matter more than what you leave in. A writing rhythm that looks nothing like “500 words every morning” (and works anyway). What finally makes the writing worth it, long before publication does. Resources & Links

In this episode Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE. Prior to the interview Mark shares a person update and a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at AuthorNation.live. In the interview Mark and Paul talk about:  Paul's previous non-fiction book for writers FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES Mark's offer of gifting 3 copies of FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES by buying them from Paul and/or a local bookshop for listeners based on a random selection of comments for this episode Paul's new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE How Paul wrote his first four mystery novels without using an outline The method Paul used to adapt strategies from outlining processes that a pantser could leverage within their own writing without having to sacrifice their strengths as a "discovery writer" How the book doesn't talk down to pansters/discovery writers, but embraces and understands that perspective Discovering that all of his different novels that he pants were all exactly 27 chapters What a time-loop mystery is, the comparison to movies like Groundhog Day and Paul's example with his novel A TIME FOR MURDER The mini flashlights that can help when a writer is "writing into the dark" Keeping the enjoyable element of discovery writing while having a plot concept to fall back upon Advice Paul would like more authors to know How Paul's love for Milwaukee really comes through in his books And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation and reminds listeners of the opportunity to win a free copy of Paul's previous book. Links of Interest: Paul Austin Ardoin (Website) Paul's Book: Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline Paul's Book: A Time for Murder EP 309 - From Zero to Four Figures with Paul Austin Ardoin Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) Stark Realities Book An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors Wide for the Win Ghost Stories of the Great Lakes Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Paul Austin Ardoin is the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Fenway Stevenson Mysteries, The Woodhead & Becker Mysteries, and the author guides From Zero to Four Figures and Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline. A California native, Paul holds a B.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. He lives in the Milwaukee area, where he enjoyed Milwaukee's surprisingly excellent symphony orchestra and unsurprisingly excellent fried cheese curds.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We live in an age of rampant tribalism and knee-jerk reactions, and discussions surrounding AI generated media is no exception. I have been fairly apprehensive about this emerging technology up to this points, but I want to make sure that I am thinking in a rational and principled way.Josh Daws is a former Disney software Engineer and is currently the Vice President of Technology for The Blaze. He views AI as an artistic tool that is allow him to pick up his dream of directing film. You can find Josh on X at x.com/JoshDaws and watch his videos at https://www.youtube.com/@JoshDawsTV.Michael Kane is the author of the Western sci-fi series, After Moses, and he is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for his new book, The Witch of Hobomock Pass. You can find him on X at x.com/MichaelFKane and contribute to his campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaelfkane/the-witch-of-hobomock-pass-a-frontier-fantasy-novelWatcht the video for this episode and subscribe to my channel here: https://youtu.be/1jTkmfAQ9SIBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

What makes an ordinary person become a dissident? Gal Beckerman explores moral courage through figures like Alexei Navalny, Osip Mandelstam and Etty Hillesum. Then Buzzy Jackson revisits the story of Dutch Resistance fighter Hannie Schaft.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Lisa See, author of “Daughters of the Sun and Moon”  Lisa See, whose latest novel is “Daughters of the Sun and Moon,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in Culver City, California on June 28, 2026. Lisa See's best-selling books include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, China Dolls, The Island of Sea Women more recently, Lady Tan's Circle of Women. Each novel, thus far, focuses on the role and lives of women of East Asian descent in various countries, including Korea, Japan, China and the United States. Some of the novels focus on a mystery, others take place within the context of historical events. Daughters of the Sun and Moon takes place in 1870, from China to Los Angeles, California, and focuses on the lives of three women, Moon, the wife of a doctor, Dove, the bound-foot daughter of a lesser bureaucrat, and Petal, the daughter of farmers. Moon has come to the United States with her husband, whom she's known since childhood. Dove was married off to an older man she's never met, and Petal was sold into sexual slavery and would find herself in a small brothel in the Chinese neighborhood, in what is now downtown L.A.       The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – July 9, 2026: Lisa See, Best Selling Novelist, “Daughters of the Sun and Moon,” 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

L.A. award-winning novelist & Professor Emerita at Georgetown University Barbara Mujica talks about her release “Miss Del Rio” inspired by the life of legendary Latina Hollywood actress Delores (Lola) Del Rio about perseverance, identity, reinvention and the challenges she faced when pursuing her dream in a world that doesn't make space for them! Barbara is a Professor Emerita of Spanish Literature and literary critic/essayist, and won numerous awards for her works and attended UCLA, and shares the stories behind the legendary actress including overcoming barriers to establish Mexico's Golden Era of film and more! Check out the amazing Barbara Mujica and her release on all major platforms and www.barbaramujica.com today! #barbaramujica #author #losangeles #professoremerita #missdelrio #deloresdelrio #lanadelrio #georgetownuniveristy #spanishliterature #hollywood #mexico #spreaker #spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerbarbaramujica #themikewagnershowbarbaramujica

L.A. award-winning novelist & Professor Emerita at Georgetown University Barbara Mujica talks about her release “Miss Del Rio” inspired by the life of legendary Latina Hollywood actress Delores (Lola) Del Rio about perseverance, identity, reinvention and the challenges she faced when pursuing her dream in a world that doesn't make space for them! Barbara is a Professor Emerita of Spanish Literature and literary critic/essayist, and won numerous awards for her works and attended UCLA, and shares the stories behind the legendary actress including overcoming barriers to establish Mexico's Golden Era of film and more! Check out the amazing Barbara Mujica and her release on all major platforms and www.barbaramujica.com today! #barbaramujica #author #losangeles #professoremerita #missdelrio #deloresdelrio #lanadelrio #georgetownuniveristy #spanishliterature #hollywood #mexico #spreaker #spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerbarbaramujica #themikewagnershowbarbaramujica

L.A. award-winning novelist & Professor Emerita at Georgetown University Barbara Mujica talks about her release “Miss Del Rio” inspired by the life of legendary Latina Hollywood actress Delores (Lola) Del Rio about perseverance, identity, reinvention and the challenges she faced when pursuing her dream in a world that doesn't make space for them! Barbara is a Professor Emerita of Spanish Literature and literary critic/essayist, and won numerous awards for her works and attended UCLA, and shares the stories behind the legendary actress including overcoming barriers to establish Mexico's Golden Era of film and more! Check out the amazing Barbara Mujica and her release on all major platforms and www.barbaramujica.com today! #barbaramujica #author #losangeles #professoremerita #missdelrio #deloresdelrio #lanadelrio #georgetownuniveristy #spanishliterature #hollywood #mexico #spreaker #spotify #iheartradio #spotify #apple #youtube #anchorfm #podbean #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerbarbaramujica #themikewagnershowbarbaramujicaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mike-wagner-show--3140147/support.

Ryan's upcoming psychological thriller, "Mother Daughter Sister Stranger." comes out Sept. 1.

It happened on August 15, 1945, as Bostonians celebrated the end of World War II.  A well-dressed woman asked a teenage newsboy to watch her newborn baby,  promising to return after running a quick errand.  She never did.  “Little Mister Victory”: A Daughter's Search for the Woman Who Abandoned Her Father on VJ Day,” is the true story of a quest, by the baby's daughter, to find the woman who abandoned her father. Novelist and historian David Kruh teamed up with the daughter Tina Garvey Drzal to solve a life-long mystery.  It is a riveting story of family secrets, the impact of legacy and colorful Boston history that presents some shocking surprises along the way!

What if patriotism isn't about claiming America is perfect, but helping it become better? This Independence Day on Writer's Voice: John de Graaf on the true story behind America the Beautiful Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie on Abigail Adams in A Founding Mother

Most unfinished manuscripts in the world died somewhere between chapter eight and chapter sixteen. The writer didn't lose interest. They lost the shape of it. The plot started to drift. The scenes started to feel disconnected. The book stalled. This 65-minute workshop is about the shape. The bones of a novel that works — and the structural diagnostic that tells you, every time, which beat in your draft is the one that needs work next. Novelist and writing coach Hank Garner walks through Freytag's Pyramid, why it's incomplete for novels, the modernized six-beat story arc that every working novel hits, the midpoint shift that fixes a sagging middle, and the five most common structural mistakes in first-novel manuscripts. You'll learn: Why "pantsers vs plotters" is the wrong fight — and what both sides get right Freytag's Pyramid, the five-part shape underneath every working drama since the Greeks The six-beat story arc — Hook, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Midpoint Shift, Climax, Resolution The three-act translation, and why six beats is easier to write than three Three ways to use the midpoint — false victory, point of no return, revelation How to diagnose a sagging middle in 60 seconds Try/fail cycles, yes-but / no-and, and the chapter-end question that earns the page turn Five common structural mistakes — and how to fix each one Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Writing Sprint Wednesdays, Feedback Fridays, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Craft Q&A Office Hours, Wordsmith Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing!

Meet Denison Smith, an American novelist who recently traded the wide-open landscapes of New Mexico for the rolling countryside of Portugal's Alentejo region.In this episode, Denison shares the story behind her move from the United States to Portugal, a journey that was years in the making thanks to Portugal's Golden Visa program. What started as an “insurance policy” gradually became a life-changing decision, prompted by political shifts in the U.S., a desire for new possibilities, and the opportunity to build a slower, more intentional life abroad.We talk about the realities of relocating to Portugal, from navigating Portuguese bureaucracy and learning the language in a rural community to buying a home in the Alentejo and finding an unexpected network of artists, creatives, and fellow internationals living off the beaten path. Denison also reflects on the challenges of importing her car, surviving one of Portugal's wettest winters in recent memory, and adapting to a culture where things happen face-to-face and at a very different pace.Along the way, we discuss what makes Portugal so appealing to expats: the warmth of local communities, the slower rhythm of life, the sense of trust between neighbors, and the beauty of living in a place where human connection still comes first.Denison also introduces her newly released novel, The Westward Hours, a speculative fiction story that explores climate change, political upheaval, resilience, and humanity's relationship with the land. Interestingly, the themes of the novel mirror many of the reasons that ultimately led him to make the move to Portugal.If you're considering moving to Portugal, curious about life in the Alentejo, or interested in hearing an honest account of starting over abroad later in life, this episode is full of insights, stories, and practical realities.

Monday, June 22—William Kennedy is to Albany what Joyce is to Dublin and Faulkner to Mississippi, a fictional alchemist who transforms his native place into novels at once deeply evocative of their setting and movingly universal in their human resonances. In The Albany Trilogy, just out from Library of America, three of Kennedy's masterpieces—including his beloved novel Ironweed—take readers from the gutter to the statehouse in narratives of brokenness, resilience, and unexpected grace set against the backdrop of one of America's most storied underdog cities. Join Kennedy himself, one of only a handful of living authors in the LOA series, and his longtime friend Paul Grondahl, editor of the LOA edition, for a special, intimate, and wide-ranging conversation about craft, Albany as a protagonist, and what's next for this titan of American letters, at work on his next book at ninety-eight years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Monday, June 22—William Kennedy is to Albany what Joyce is to Dublin and Faulkner to Mississippi, a fictional alchemist who transforms his native place into novels at once deeply evocative of their setting and movingly universal in their human resonances. In The Albany Trilogy, just out from Library of America, three of Kennedy's masterpieces—including his beloved novel Ironweed—take readers from the gutter to the statehouse in narratives of brokenness, resilience, and unexpected grace set against the backdrop of one of America's most storied underdog cities. Join Kennedy himself, one of only a handful of living authors in the LOA series, and his longtime friend Paul Grondahl, editor of the LOA edition, for a special, intimate, and wide-ranging conversation about craft, Albany as a protagonist, and what's next for this titan of American letters, at work on his next book at ninety-eight years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Monday, June 22—William Kennedy is to Albany what Joyce is to Dublin and Faulkner to Mississippi, a fictional alchemist who transforms his native place into novels at once deeply evocative of their setting and movingly universal in their human resonances. In The Albany Trilogy, just out from Library of America, three of Kennedy's masterpieces—including his beloved novel Ironweed—take readers from the gutter to the statehouse in narratives of brokenness, resilience, and unexpected grace set against the backdrop of one of America's most storied underdog cities. Join Kennedy himself, one of only a handful of living authors in the LOA series, and his longtime friend Paul Grondahl, editor of the LOA edition, for a special, intimate, and wide-ranging conversation about craft, Albany as a protagonist, and what's next for this titan of American letters, at work on his next book at ninety-eight years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Novelist, Ian Rankin talks to Brendan about the story of his life through the prism of five songs that have a special meaning for him. He talks about his son who lives with Angelman's Syndrome, why he's glad he wasn't an overnight success story and the complex life of a writer being so absorbed in another fictional world.

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Who gets to tell the story, and who gets erased? This week on Writer's Voice, we talk with media scholar Robin Andersen about her book The Complicit Lens: U.S. Media Coverage of Israel's Genocide in Gaza. Andersen’s argument is blunt: the American press didn’t … Continue reading U.S. Media’s Gaza Failure with Robin Andersen | Plus: Trans Youth and Anti-Trans Laws with Nico Lang →

Host Diana Korte speaks with writer Lisa See who has published 13 books. Her newest title, DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND MOON, is the story of three Chinese women immigrants. As the book begins, it's 1870 when these Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent part of Los Angeles. Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a larger society that wishes them not one ounce of good will. Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong in Los Angeles, and this eventually leads to the Night of Horrors during which all three women are challenged in ways they could not have imagined. Their unexpected friendship helps them survive and, despite the odds, thrive, in the turmoil of post-Civil War Los Angeles. 

“I escaped into my imagination. That is what I did from the earliest time that I can remember. I was writing stories, and when the world was too difficult, I would just make up one of my own and I would spend my time there. That was a power that I developed out of survival instinct, but it's also made it possible for me to spend so much time alone writing books.” Jamie Coomarasamy speaks to Patricia Cornwell, one of the world's best-selling crime writers, whose books have sold more than 120 million copies worldwide. She reflects on a childhood marked by trauma, instability and family mental illness, and the lasting impact those experiences have had on her life. Her imagination became a refuge during difficult years, shaping the stories and characters she would later create. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews coming from the BBC, including episodes with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and and author Sir Salman Rushdie. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Jamie Coomarasamy Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Damon Rose Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Patricia Cornwell. Credit: Getty)

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist and essayist Siri Hustvedt. Born in Minnesota in 1955 to a Norwegian mother and American father, Siri grew up bilingual. On a family trip one summer, she read voraciously and decided she wanted to become a writer. In 1981 Siri published her first poem in the Paris Review and a small collection emerged two years later. In 1992 she published her debut novel, “The Blindfold”, which was translated into 17 languages. Six more novels followed - “The Enchantment of Lily Dahl”, “What I Loved”, “The Sorrows of an American”, “The Summer Without Men”, “The Blazing World” (longlisted for the Man Booker Prize) and “Memories of the Future” - as well as several collections of essays. Alongside her writing, Siri has studied psychoanalysis, neurology and psychiatry and in 2015 she was appointed a lecturer in psychiatry at Weill Cornell medical school. We spoke to Siri about making her way in poetry and publishing, her interest in the sciences and her latest book, “Ghost Stories”, a memoir about her marriage to the late novelist Paul Auster. In addition to the standard audio format, the podcast is now available in video. You can check us out on YouTube under Always Take Notes.   We've also made (yet) another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added a further 70 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New Yorker, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the Guardian Long Read. The whole compendium now runs to a magisterial 230 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (one is left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a call with Simon and Rachel. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to Melanie McCabe as she talks about her debut thriller that will keep you glued to every page! The themes of displacement and memory keep the reader wanting more. 

Steve chats with Camille Perri, author of the new book, Social Animals, about reluctant dog parents, why librarians should star in a reality show, the loneliness epidemic, and how she balances humor, relationship-building, and mystery to craft her new novel. Plus, over at the Circ Desk, NoveList librarians Sydney and Caleigh provide some great readalikes … Continue reading 314: Social Animals by Camille Perri – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026

This week Andrew talks with New York Times bestselling author Nikki Erlick. Nikki's debut novel, The Measure, was an instant New York Times bestseller when it was published back in 2022. It was selected as Jenna Bush Hager and The TODAY Show's Read With Jenna Book Club pick. After The Measure, Nikki's latest book, The Poppy Fields, was an instant USA Today Bestseller and one of Amazon Books ‘Best of 2025'. As you will hear, the success & acclaim has impacted Nikki's life in so many positive ways — but it's also activated new fears, uncertainty, & unknowns she's had to confront head-on. This conversation is a rare, candid look at Nikki's creative process, how she works, & the vulnerable ideas she wrestles with along the way. ** Follow Andrew **Instagram: @AndrewMoses123X: @andrewhmosesSign up for e-mails to keep up with the podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletterDISCLAIMER: This podcast is solely for educational & entertainment purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

For SEO, I'd make it shorter and keyword-rich: Alex Woodard discusses Ordinary Soil, a sweeping multigenerational novel about a Choctaw farming family in the Oklahoma Panhandle, exploring the deep connections between land, food, health, and identity. Then, in an encore interview, environmental journalist Carey Gillam talks about The Monsanto Papers and the landmark lawsuit in which groundskeeper Lee Johnson took on Monsanto and won.

Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, and his debut, "The Old Place." Bobby Finger is a writer and co-host of the popular celebrity and entertainment podcast, Who? Weekly, "The podcast that tells you everything you need to know about celebrities you don't." His debut novel is The Old Place, described as "A bighearted and moving debut about a wry retired schoolteacher whose decade-old secret threatens to come to light and send shockwaves through her small Texas town." It has been named Washington Post‘s 10 Noteworthy Books for September, People‘s Best New Books, Town & Country's 45 Must-Read Books of Fall, New York's 25 Notable New Releases, Kirkus Review‘s 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, LitHub‘s Most Anticipated Books of 2022, among many others. New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, “I loved being inside this skillful novel—at the planning parties for church fundraisers, learning to drive with a can of beer in the cupholder, and in the heads of some wonderfully tangy old Texan ladies. Bobby Finger has built a rich world in The Old Place, and I will think of it every time I make toast.” Stay calm and write on ... ⁠Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox⁠ If you're a fan of The Writer Files, ⁠please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews⁠. In this file Bobby Finger and I discussed: Growing up in a small Texas town His start in copywriting and freelance journalism Writing screenplays in the margins Becoming a full-time podcaster How to write autofiction with a twist What happens when people leave, and those left behind And a lot more! Show Notes: ⁠whoweekly.us⁠ ⁠The Old Place By Bobby Finger⁠ (Amazon) Bobby Finger on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we write? Is it to capture a memory before it vanishes or to build a bridge between the person we are and the stories we've been told? In this episode of The Creative Process, we explore the practice of writing as an awakening and tool for discovery with a group of celebrated poets, novelists, musicians and thinkers.We hear from neuroscientist, dancer and author Julia Christensen on how literature inspires transformative aesthetic experiences. Award-winning poet and clinical psychologist Hala Alyan discusses navigating displacement through narrative, while bestselling author Andre Dubus III reflects on the honest labor of the writer and the willingness to fail.Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown shares how the sounds of American vernacular guide his work and Fmr. US Poet Laureate Ada Limón discusses holding hope within frightening thoughts about the future of our planet. NYT Bestseller Aimee Nezhukumatathil speaks on tenderness towards the natural world and naturalist Sy Montgomery shares how animals have been her greatest teachers.The conversation expands with poet Max Stossel on finding humanity in conflict, Tiokasin Ghosthorse on the ancient energy of the earth and Julian Lennon on art as a collective human endeavor. Finally, composer Erland Cooper takes us to the landscape of his youth, where the sound of the sea informed his creative voice. To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

What happens when traditional publishing stalls your career — and you decide to take matters into your own hands?In this episode, Nicole sits down with award-winning novelist Annie Cathryn (The Friendship Breakup, Eat the Cake) to talk candidly about her journey from querying 125 literary agents, landing a traditional publishing deal, and ultimately making the leap to self-publishing her latest novel.Whether you're a fiction writer wondering how to self-publish your first novel, or a traditionally published author weighing a move to indie publishing, Annie's story is full of hard-won wisdom and practical insight.They cover:What it really takes to query literary agents — and why 125 rejections isn't failureWhy traditional publishing didn't work for Annie's sophomore novel (and why it had nothing to do with her writing)How she launched an indie publishing business in a single day — LLC, website, pub date and allThe honest learning curve of self-publishing: book formatting, cover design, IngramSpark vs. Amazon, and what she'd do differentlyThe real benefits of being an indie author: creative control, real-time sales data, and choosing your own pub dateHow to decide whether traditional or self-publishing is the right fit for your author careerAnnie's debut novel Eat the Cake — a story of grief, unexpected hope, and a scavenger hunt through Florence — releases July 21st. Find her on Instagram @msanniecathryn and pre-order at bookstoread.com/anniecatherine.For more on Nicole Meier, visit nicolemeier.com

In this episode, SCPL staff-favorite crossover novelist Ruta Sepetys talks with Jenn and Kelsey about her debut adult novel, A Fortune of Sand--a book that explores how far wealthy dynasties will go to keep their secrets. We discuss what determines how history is preserved and recalled, how women of the time struggled to find agency, and the fragile tension of writing about things once vital but now vanished. It's a vibe!

Critically acclaimed debut novelist and food writer, Catherine Kurtz, spoke with us about art school, painting life, judging the International Chocolate Awards, and her delicious first book FEAST. Catherine Kurtz is a multidisciplinarian known for her parallel careers in the visual arts, literature, and culinary criticism – including as a judge and educator in the field of chocolate tasting. She is a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a Grand Jury Member of the International Chocolate Awards. Her debut is, Feast, “for fans of Chocolat (show-co-lot, haha, i need this

Why do we write? Is it to capture a memory before it vanishes or to build a bridge between the person we are and the stories we've been told? In this episode of The Creative Process, we explore the practice of writing as an awakening and tool for discovery with a group of celebrated poets, novelists, musicians and thinkers.We hear from neuroscientist, dancer and author Julia Christensen on how literature inspires transformative aesthetic experiences. Award-winning poet and clinical psychologist Hala Alyan discusses navigating displacement through narrative, while bestselling author Andre Dubus III reflects on the honest labor of the writer and the willingness to fail.Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown shares how the sounds of American vernacular guide his work and Fmr. US Poet Laureate Ada Limón discusses holding hope within frightening thoughts about the future of our planet. NYT Bestseller Aimee Nezhukumatathil speaks on tenderness towards the natural world and naturalist Sy Montgomery shares how animals have been her greatest teachers.The conversation expands with poet Max Stossel on finding humanity in conflict, Tiokasin Ghosthorse on the ancient energy of the earth and Julian Lennon on art as a collective human endeavor. Finally, composer Erland Cooper takes us to the landscape of his youth, where the sound of the sea informed his creative voice. To hear more from each guest, listen to their full interviews.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

The select soccer practices, the travel team, the chess club, the homework, the test prep...moms today are navigating not just a more complex world when it comes to raising their kids, but also all the add-ons that are supposed to help our kids prepare for an uncertain future. But what if you decided to get off the hamster wheel and make your kids...and your life...more simple? Novelist and journalist Christine Gunderson joins AllMomDoes host Julie Lyles Carr for an insightful conversation about the forces that drive us to do more more more for our kids and why it could be time for a reset.Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4xfKrIr Key  Topics:The evolution of motherhood from the 1960s to todayImpact of societal expectations on mothersThe role of community in raising childrenThe importance of boredom and free time for kidsThe influence of technology and screen time on literacy and creativitySound bites:"Why are we doing all this stuff?""Fast content shortens attention spans.""Share passions, don't impose them."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Motherhood Today03:04 The Changing Landscape of Motherhood05:47 Community and Its Role in Parenting08:38 The Impact of Scheduling on Children11:26 Boredom and Creativity in Kids14:35 The Walk Away Wife Syndrome17:23 Finding Solutions Through Community20:10 Unrealized Aspirations and Parenting22:49 Conclusion and ResourcesKeywords: motherhood, parenting pressures, community, family life, homeschooling, childhood freedom, social anxiety, screen time, work-life balance, novel

Jordan Harper is among the best working writers of our time.  Last year, Harper joined the podcast ahead of the release of the film adaptation of his novel She Rides Shotgun. This week he returned...

Maggie O'Farrell wrote the novel ‘Hamnet' and co-wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation. She has a new book called ‘Land,' about a father and son mapping 19th-century Ireland after the devastation of the Great Famine. Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the latest by classics scholar Mary Beard.Also, we hear from historian Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor. She has spent much of her career tracing the N-word through slavery, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, and hip hop. For a long time she kept it a secret that her father was Richard Pryor, the man who put the word at the center of American comedy. "I was a scholar of the N-word — and so, obviously, is he." Her new book is ‘Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.' See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Andrea Dunlop created a true crime sensation with her podcast, Nobody Should Believe Me. We discuss her latest season and the difficult problem of medical child abuse.Check out our new True Crime Substack the True Crime Times Get Prosecutors Podcast Merch Join the Gallery on Facebook Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Instagram Check out our website for case resources: Hang out with us on TikTokSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

O'Farrell's 2020 novel ‘Hamnet' was adapted into an award-winning film last year. She co-wrote the screenplay. It's about the grief Shakespeare and his wife Agnes struggle with after their son, Hamnet, dies of the plague, and how that grief leads him to write the play Hamlet. O'Farrell's new novel, ‘Land,' is about the lives of an Irish family living in the aftermath of the Great Famine. Even though she writes historical novels, she tries not to lean too much into history: “I find there's nothing that makes me put a book down faster than if somebody is trying to show me that they've done all their homework,” she says. ‘Land' is in part based on her family. Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Classicist Mary Beard's new book ‘Talking Classics.'See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

In this week's Fraud Friday, Laci is joined by the legendary Paula Poundstone (Science Court, Inside Out) to discuss Susan Meachen, an independent romance novelist who faked her death in 2020 and miraculously resurrected in 2022. Plus, a Florida woman has been arrested after a 4-year-long romance scam that resulted in the defrauding of an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. Stay Schemin'! (Originally Released 02/13/2023)   Follow on Instagram: Scam Goddess Pod: @scamgoddesspod Laci Mosley: @divalaci Paula Poundstone: @paulapoundstone   Research by Kaelyn Brandt SOURCES: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/16/health/fake-death-romance-novelist-meachen.html https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/book-author-exposed-fake-suicide-facebook-group-1234655830/?fbclid=IwAR0T1Z8YBSGjkOmKkE2bqww-XVhj2142WqdD97YlxSd0QWLr_eCm8LSaJKc https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/susan-meachen-author-fake-death-b2265223.html?r=21062 https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/susan-meachen-author-alleged-death-hoax Twitter user @Draggerofliars thread: https://twitter.com/Draggerofliars/status/1610491152091717632 https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-allegedly-steals-28-million-holocaust-survivor-romance/story?id=96673243 https://www.news4jax.com/consumer/2019/04/30/how-to-avoid-falling-for-fake-online-product-reviews/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scam Goddess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We trace the extraordinary rise and fall of the House of Boleyn. From humble Norfolk tenant farmers, the Boleyns used everything from wool trading to the diplomatic service to climb to the heights of Tudor power.Novelist and historian Philippa Gregory joins us to explain this family's dizzying ascent, and how their path ultimately led to tragedy, betrayal and execution.Philippa's book is 'Boleyn Traitor'.Produced by Mariana Des Forges and Peta Stamper, and edited by Dougal Patmore.We need your help! Let us know what you want from Dan Snow's History Hit by filling in our anonymous survey here: https://forms.gle/PvgayWLkWGjYT4St6Dan Snow's History Hit is now available on YouTube! Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/@DSHHPodcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like the main character in his Booker Prize-winning novel 'Shuggie Bain,' writer Douglas Stuart grew up in Glasgow, working class, queer, and with a mother addicted to alcohol. His first career was in fashion, designing underwear for Calvin Klein. “Sometimes when I'm in an audience now and I feel a little nervous, I have a joke to myself and think, how many people in this audience have worn the underwear that you designed?” He spoke with Terry Gross about his new novel, ‘John of John.'Later, Richard Gadd, creator and star of the Netflix show ‘Baby Reindeer' talks with Tonya Mosley about his new series, ‘Half Man.' It's about two boys who become brothers when their mothers fall in love. They spend the next 30 years trying to survive each other.David Bianculli reviews the latest adaptation of ‘Lord of the Flies.'See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Like a number of his characters, Booker Prize-winning novelist Douglas Stuart grew up working class and queer in Glasgow. He went on to have a career in fashion, which plays into his latest novel, John of John. “It's hard to tell people about grief. It's hard to talk to people about poverty... and so I'd got very used to the silence in my own life, and my writing is the only thing that allows me to connect with myself,” Stuart told Terry Gross. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy