Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard Russo

In this episode, meet award-winning author Richard Russo, artist and activist Tourmaline, and anthropologist and former wildland firefighter Jordan Thomas. Hear Richard Russo on the performance aspect of narration, discover Tourmaline's favorite recording moment, and hear what Jordan Thomas is most excited for listeners to learn about the people who fight wildfires. Life and Art by Richard Russo: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/748741/life-and-art-by-richard-russo/audio Marsha by Tourmaline: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/677583/marsha-by-tourmaline/audio One Day in June by Tourmaline: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703746/one-day-in-june-by-tourmaline-illustrated-by-charlot-kristensen/audio When It All Burns by Jordan Thomas: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722364/when-it-all-burns-by-jordan-thomas/audio

6/2/2025: Nick Mottern & Ruth Moushabeck on the Fathers' Day benefit concert for Gaza kids. Megan Zinn w/ Richard Russo on his new essay collection "Life and Art." Sen Jo Comerford on MA efforts to combat Trump's assault on health care, nutrition, & decency. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: commencements breed hope, trump breeds fear, and the work on budget season attempts to address both.

6/2/2025: Nick Mottern & Ruth Moushabeck on the Fathers' Day benefit concert for Gaza kids. Megan Zinn w/ Richard Russo on his new essay collection "Life and Art." Sen Jo Comerford on MA efforts to combat Trump's assault on health care, nutrition, & decency. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: commencements breed hope, trump breeds fear, and the work on budget season attempts to address both.

6/2/2025: Nick Mottern & Ruth Moushabeck on the Fathers' Day benefit concert for Gaza kids. Megan Zinn w/ Richard Russo on his new essay collection "Life and Art." Sen Jo Comerford on MA efforts to combat Trump's assault on health care, nutrition, & decency. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: commencements breed hope, trump breeds fear, and the work on budget season attempts to address both.

6/2/2025: Nick Mottern & Ruth Moushabeck on the Fathers' Day benefit concert for Gaza kids. Megan Zinn w/ Richard Russo on his new essay collection "Life and Art." Sen Jo Comerford on MA efforts to combat Trump's assault on health care, nutrition, & decency. Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: commencements breed hope, trump breeds fear, and the work on budget season attempts to address both.

Richard Russo is the author of ten novels, most recently Somebody's Fool, Chances Are, Everybody's Fool and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories; one previous essay collection about writing — The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life; and the memoir Elsewhere. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which, like Nobody's Fool, won multiple awards for its screen adaptation, and in 2023 his novel Straight Man was adapted into the television series Lucky Hank. His latest, Life and Art, contains 13 essays touching on many of the topics we grapple with on the show. How to imagine your way into another person's skin. When it is inappropriate to try. What should writers be making of this current moment in history and their role in it. Where and how do we find meaning in our work. It feels very much born out of the pandemic, and out of this cultural moment, so it's got a lot of insights about our country and Richard's unique socio-economic experiences living in it for 75 years. He joins Marrie Stone to talk about it. 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 of past interviews on our website. You can help out the show and indie bookstores by buying books at our bookstore on bookshop.org. It's stocked with titles by our guest authors, as well as our personal favorites. And on Spotify, you'll find an album's worth of typewriter music like what you hear on the show. It's perfect for writing. Look for the artist, Just My Type. Email the show at writersonwritingpodcast@gmail.com. We love to hear from our listeners! (Recorded on May 12, 2025) Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Host: Marrie Stone Music: Travis Barrett (Stream his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Etc.)

Richard Russo is an American treasure. The writer of so many great novels (Empire Falls, Straight Man), we strongly encourage you to read his newest, Life and Art, which is a collection of essays.  We know that so many people say, ESSAYS? Yes, essays, and they are spectacular.  These are not arguments shoved in your face.  These are thoughtful life reflections from one of the great writers of our time, and they should be savored and enjoyed.  If you love Richard Russo, please join us as we talk about why art matters more now then ever, and why he believes he had to write this book. Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode: Life and Art by Richard RussoEmpire Falls by Richard RussoStraight Man by Richard RussoThat Old Cape Magic by Richard RussoMohawk by Richard RussoThe Whore's Child and Other Stories by Richard RussoElsewhere by Richard RussoThe Risk Pool by Richard RussoChances Are… by Richard RussoNobody's Fool by Richard RussoSomebody's Fool by Richard RussoEverybody's Fool by Richard RussoA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensRumpole of the Bailey by John Mortimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maine author Richard Russo discusses his new collection of essays, Life and Art, and how he reflects on his personal life through his writing

There were no movies starring the late Gene Hackman that were released in the US in 1999, but two of his films released in the US in 1998 – Tony Scott's Enemy of the State and Robert Benton's Twilight – were released in Europe in 1999. So because plenty has been said about the former, we are taking a look today at the latter. Directed by Kramer and Kramer writer and director Robert Benton and written by Benton and novelist Richard Russo, who also teamed up with star Paul Newman on 1994's adaptation of Russo's Nobody's Fool, Twilight stars Newman with a supporting cast of Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, James Garner, Stockard Channing, Reese Witherspoon, Margo Martindale, John Spencer, Live Shrieber, the dying body of M. Emmet Walsh, and Giancarlo Esposito. Twilight was a box office failure and was met with a lukewarm reception by critics, but it is a very good case study in the question as to whether or not some actors - like Hackman - could be good in absolutely anything.

Meg Shaffer takes us behind the scenes to the literary seminar with legendary writer Richard Russo, who helped her craft her cozy fantasy book, The Lost Story.Imposter syndrome is real and even our favorite authors experience it as they contemplate their next project. In this week's episode, we welcome back bestselling author Meg Shaffer to join us to discuss her latest cozy fantasy novel, The Lost Story, and the literary seminar with Richard Russo that guided this story and gave Meg the writing encouragement she always needed.  Today, we discuss Meg's unique research methods, including how she used Fiverr to fact-check archery scenes and gain insights into the pressures of writing a second novel after the commercial success of The Wishing Game.Don't miss this week's bonus book list with 23 cozy fantasy books to read this autumn. This new book list includes upcoming titles, new releases, and, of course, those backlist book gems you have come to expect!Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Meg Shaffer, where we discuss The Lost Story ending, her favorite moments in the book, and her top book recommendations from her spicy romance writing career for Harlequin!Meet Meg ShafferMeg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller, and a Reader's Digest Best Book of the Year. Her second novel, The Lost Story, is an instant national bestseller and is available now from Ballantine.With an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College, Shaffer lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats—though the cats, unfortunately, aren't writers.Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like The Lost Story. All purchases support this year's programming. Mentioned in this episode:BONUS BOOK LIST: 23 Cozy Fantasy Books  To Lower Your Stress LevelsJoin the October Book Club Chat (Severance by Ling Ma)The Lost Story by Meg ShafferThe Wishing Game by Meg ShafferThe Wishing Game Interview (Meg Shaffer's First Show)The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. KluneLord of the Flies by William GoldingChronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisThe Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire LombardoThe Magic of Old Hollywood Books with Molly Fader EpisodeThe Neverending Story by Michael EndeJack Gibbons, Chopin PianistIt by Stephen KingBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Meg Shaffer on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals NewsletterBuy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation)

This week on Sinica, I'm in Beijing, where I spoke with my dear friend Anthony Tao, an English-language poet and a builder of community in the city where I lived for over 20 years. Anthony recently published a volume of his poetry called We Met in Beijing, and it captures the relationship that so many have with the city wherever they might come from. The episode features readings of some of his — and my — favorite poems.3:28 Why Anthony chose poetry as a medium, and the poetry he has read [appreciated?]9:13 A discussion of Anthony's poem, “I Landed in Beijing,” and the feelings Beijing inspires19:56 Anthony's poem, “Self-censorship”27:08 Anthony's journalism in poetic form and processing the trauma of COVID 31:38 Living as an “expat” and writing from an expat's perspective: Anthony's poem “Dancing like a Laowai 40:46 Anthony's bar — The Golden Weasel — and meeting interesting people in Beijing 44:49 The themes of place and nostalgia, Anthony's poem, “Postcard,” and the last stanza of his title poem, “We Met in Beijing”Recommendations:Anthony: The poetry of Stephen Dunn; the TV series Lucky Hank (2023) based on Straight Man by Richard Russo; Spittoon, an English-language literary collective in China; and his band, Poetry x Music Kaiser: The many international restaurants of Xiaoyun Lu in Beijing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tess and Brock try to get on the same wavelength as Edwin Arlington Robinson, also known as EAR, by visiting his birthplace in Gardiner, ME. To get inside the head of the poet they talk with Richard Russo. Russo and EAR share more similarities than their status as Pulitzer prize winning Maine authors—both of their work focuses on growing up in small towns with big dreams.Today, EAR may not be the biggest name, but his work remains timeless in its ability to connect to the inner misfit in all of us.Mentioned:“The House on the Hill” by Edwin Arlington Robinson“Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson“Children of the Night” by Edwin Arlington RobinsonStraight Man by Richard RussoElsewhere by Richard RussoSomebody's Fool by Richard RussoBreaking Bad (2008)Better Call Saul (2015)Colby College Special Robinson CollectionThe house:The E.A. Robinson HouseTess Chakkalakal is the creator, executive producer and host of Dead Writers. Brock Clarke is our writer and co-host.Lisa Bartfai is the managing producer and executive editor. Our music is composed by Cedric Wilson, who also mixes the show. Ella Jones is our web editorial intern, and Mark Hoffman created our logo. A special thanks to our reader Merrick Meardon.This episode was produced with the generous support of our sponsors Bath Savings and listeners like you.

JOEL GOTLER is CEO of Intellectual Property Group, a literary management company based in Los Angeles, whose film clients include Michael Connelly, John Scalzi, Piers Anthony, Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Russo, Viet Nguyen, JD Barker, Debbie Macomber, David Wiesner and Andre Dubus III, as well as the estates of Sue Grafton, James M. Cain, Stephen Ambrose, Roger Ebert, Frank McCourt and John O'Hara. He is also executive producer of MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET and FERDINAND.     Host Jason E. Squire is Editor of The Movie Business Book and Professor Emeritus, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Music: “The Day it All Began and it All Ended” by Pawel Feszczuk (License: CC by 4.0).  

Richard Russo ist zurück in der amerikanischen Provinz. Zurück bei seinen Heldinnen und Helden in North Bath, die wir bereits aus „Ein grundzufriedener Mann“ und „Ein Mann der Tat“ kennen. „Von guten Eltern“ ist der Abschluss der „Fools“-Trilogie, mit der der US-amerikanische Autor drei Jahrzehnte lang beschäftigt war. Es sind die kleinen Leute und ihre Lebensumstände, die wie gehabt im Mittelpunkt stehen. Außerdem geht es um einen Kriminalfall. Ein dickes Buch, das sich die beiden Podcaster vorgenommen haben. Die anderen beiden in dieser Folge sind schmal. Da ist zum einen die Novelle „Die seligen Jahre der Züchtigung“, eine Wieder- und Neuentdeckung für die deutsche Leserschaft. Die auf Italienisch schreibende Schweizerin Fleur Jaeggy wird derzeit von Suhrkamp neu aufgelegt, eine lohnenswerte Angelegenheit. Die Irin Claire Keegan legt nun auf Deutsch auch eine Novelle vor: „Reichlich spät“ erzählt von einer geplatzten Hochzeit. Muss man mit dem Mann, der sich da so gnadenlos blamiert, eigentlich Mitleid haben?

Spurensuche und Spannung zeichnen unter anderem die beiden Bücher aus, die heute auf dem Literaturstammtisch liegen. Marc-Uwe Klings «Views» ist ein gesellschaftskritischer Thriller, Heinrich Steinfests «Sprung ins Leere» ein kunsthistorischer Krimi. «Views» so heisst das neuste Buch des deutschen Autors Marc-Uwe Kling. Eine Jugendliche verschwindet spurlos. Dafür taucht ein Video auf allen möglichen sozialen Netzwerken auf und geht viral. Der Inhalt des Videos ist verstörend, denn es zeigt, wie die Jugendliche brutal vergewaltigt wird. Die Berliner Ermittlerin Yasira Saad soll die junge Frau und die Vergewaltiger finden. Jennifer Khakshouri konnte das Buch nicht mehr weglegen: es sei so aktuell und brisant, dass man nur noch staune. Im Roman «Sprung ins Leere» führt Heinrich Steinfest die Leserschaft einmal mehr in seinen Kosmos. Und wie immer ist man konfrontiert mit Dingen, die einem vertraut und merkwürdig zugleich vorkommen. Es geht um die Welt der Kunst, um bekannte Werke von Yves Klein oder Jacob van Ruistal, aber auch um Werke, die nur im Steinfest-Kosmos existieren. Vor allem aber erzählt Steinfest die Geschichte einer spektakulären Suche nach einer verschwundenen Künstlerin, die von Wien nach Japan und wieder zurück nach Wien führt. Grosses Kino. Und beste Literatur, findet Literaturredaktor Michael Luisier, der das Buch am Stammtisch vorstellt. Den heutigen Kurztipp widmet Britta Spichiger dem US-amerikanischen Autor Richard Russo. In seinem neuen Roman «Von guten Eltern» erzählt er – wie schon in früheren Geschichten - von einer Kleinstadt in Upstate New York, von den Menschen dort, die allen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Widerständen zum Trotz für ein gutes Leben kämpfen. Russo nennt die Probleme beim Namen und schreibt doch über universell Menschliches, zeigt voller Empathie aber ohne Kitsch, dass es nie zu spät ist, nochmals neu anzufangen. Buchhinweise: * Marc-Uwe Kling. Views. 272 Seiten. Ullstein, 2024. * Heinrich Steinfest. Sprung ins Leere. 496 Seiten. Piper, 2024. * Richard Russo. Von guten Eltern. Aus dem Englischen von Monika Köpfer. 576 Seiten. DuMont, 2024.

Es ist nie spät neu anzufangen. Richard Russos letzter Band der Fools-Trilogie „Von guten Eltern“ ist einfühlsam, witzig und auf unterhaltsame Art sehr politisch. Eine Rezension von Simone Hamm. Von Simone Hamm.

Falcke, Eberhard www.deutschlandfunk.de, Büchermarkt

Hueck, Carsten www.deutschlandfunk.de, Büchermarkt

On today's 182nd episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews #1 International bestselling author John Katzenbach about his book Jack's Boys. They discuss the nature of storytelling in thrillers and the importance of creating complete and psychologically attuned characters. Katzenbach also shares how his experience as a criminal court reporter influenced his fiction writing. John also talks about growing up in the shadow of his father, former US Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and how it shaped his perspective on government and history. The conversation touches on various topics, including the making of three of John's books that were made into the movies: THE MEAN SEASON, starring Kurt Russell and Mariel Hemingway, JUST CAUSE, starring Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne and Ed Harris; and HART'S WAR, starring Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell.David and John discuss other topics such as the impact of climate change in Miami, some of their favorite movies and movie stars, plus the inspiration behind the story, Jack's Boys, the importance of accuracy in thrillers, and the differences in reader reactions across different cultures.Finally, the two men touch on the use of references to music and films in Katzenbach's writing, and their conversation ends with Katzenbach sharing his advice for writers.Learn more at JohnKatzenbach.com, TheThrillerZone.com and be sure to subscribe to YouTube.com/thethrillerzone, as well as follow this podcast on X, Instagram and Facebook @thethrillerzone. The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Moritz, Rainer www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Elke Heidenreich spricht über ihren Essay „Altern“, eine Rezension zu Colm Tóibíns aktuellen Roman „Long Island“, Lesetipps und mehr aktuelle Bücher.

Rezession, Rassismus und Polizeigewalt in einer Kleinstadt in Upstate New York: Richard Russo zeichnet ein packendes Stimmungsbild der US-Gesellschaft vor der Trump-Ära. Der bislang politischste Roman des Pulitzer-Preisträgers, der seinen Figuren trotz aller Katastrophen immer eine Portion Optimismus mitgibt. Ein Gespräch mit Christoph Schröder

US-Schriftsteller Richard Russo schildert das Leben in der Provinz so präzise, dass man besser versteht, warum die USA so gespalten sind. Nun ist mit "Von guten Eltern" der letzte Band seiner Trilogie erschienen. Simone Hamm hat mit ihm gesprochen. Von Simone Hamm.

It's Popzara's Movie Time! Podcast, where our in-house movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans take you on an unscripted journey yakking and chatting about some of their favorite movie moments and cinematic scenes, from past and present, presented without snark and snobbery for your listening pleasure. On this episode are two films harkening back to a simpler time, both cinematically and narratively, about imperfect men becoming unlikely role models. These are the type of films favoring essence over spectacle, characters over caricatures. And did we mention the snow? First up is 1994's Nobody's Fool, directed by Robert Benton and starring Paul Newman in an Oscar-nominated performance as Donald “Sully” Sullivan, a man still learning to grow up at the age of 60. Based on Richard Russo's novel (of which was recently expanded into a trilogy), it's the ultimate character study of both actor and role. Next is 2023's The Holdovers, director Alexander Payne's expressed throwback to 1970s style film-making starring Paul Giamatti in his own Oscar-nominated performance as an unlikable professor realizing just how much he still has to learn about life. Our hosts dive into both films like book nerds into great literature, and with surprising results. Listen and learn the shocking similarities between Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, and how Paul Giamatti's attempt to break into action films didn't go as planned. If they really “don't make films like they used to”, then what did we just watch?

Louise O'Brien reviews three of her favourite books from last year: Victory City by Salman Rushdie, published by Jonathan Cape; The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt, published by Bloomsbury; and Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo, published by Allen and Unwin

This week on From the Front Porch, it's another installment of Bookmarked with Annie & Hunter! In Bookmarked episodes, Annie and Hunter read or re-read an award-winning book that came out several years prior. This time on Bookmarked, they're discussing Empire Falls by Richard Russo. You can purchase your copy here. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 451” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Empire Falls by Richard Russo Tinkers by Paul Harding Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri Bleak House by Charles Dickens Thank you to this week's sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it's time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we're exactly what you're looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There's no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we hope you'll visit beautiful Thomasville, Georgia – it's worth the trip! Plan your visit at ThomasvilleGa.com. 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 Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks. Hunter is reading Hawk Mountain by Conner Habib. 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.  

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in October. You get 10% off your books when you order your October Reading Recap bundle! Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie's three favorite books she read that month. Get your bundle here. You can get the books mentioned in this episode on our website (type “Episode 448” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Cross everyone off your holiday shopping list at The Bookshelf's super-popular virtual holiday literary previews, plus our Holiday Market for bookish gift items! Tickets are $15. Each event takes place online via Zoom. If you can't join us live, you'll have access to a recording after the event. Get your tickets to the virtual events here: Adult Holiday Literary First Look ticket – Annie will walk you through the best books to give to everyone on your list: from your hard-to-buy-for dad, to your best friend who's read everything, to your mother-in-law. Kid's Holiday Literary First Look ticket – Olivia will walk you through the best books to give the young readers in your life, from board book readers to middle grade readers. Plus, you'll get an exclusive sneak-peek at our Countdown to Christmas kids picture book bundles! Holiday Market ticket – Annie will walk you through the delightful, bookish gift items The Bookshelf has in store this season. Plus, you'll get an exclusive sneak-peek at our Bookshelf Advent Calendar for adults! Annie's October Reading Recap Bundle - $47 Empire Falls by Richard Russo (paperback) My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (paperback) Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (paperback) The Last Love Note by Emma Grey (releases 11/28/23) Heirloom Rooms by Erin Napier Empire Falls by Richard Russo My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine Leaving by Roxana Robinson (releases 2/13/24) Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke Thank you to this week's sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it's time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we're exactly what you're looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There's no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we hope you'll visit beautiful Thomasville, Georgia – it's worth the trip! Plan your visit at ThomasvilleGa.com. 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 A Very Inconvenient Scandal by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 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.  

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie is chatting with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (type “Episode 447” into the search bar and tap enter to easily find the books mentioned in this episode): Thrush Green by Miss Read Mrs. Porter Calling by AJ Pearce What If It's Wonderful by Nicole Zasowski Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey How to Pray by C.S. Lewis Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan Thank you to this week's sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it's time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we're exactly what you're looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There's no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we hope you'll visit beautiful Thomasville, Georgia – it's worth the trip! Plan your visit at ThomasvilleGa.com. 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 Empire Falls by Richard Russo. Olivia is reading The Professor by Lauren Nossett. Keila is reading Fourth Wing 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.

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Alan Minskoff discuss Richard Russo's newest book, given a very fine narration by Mark Bramhall. Russo is at his storytelling best here, returning to the North Bath community of NOBODY'S FOOL and EVERYBODY'S FOOL. A broad array of characters interacts credibly thanks to Bramhall's strong performance. As Peter Sullivan mulls over his relationship with his estranged son, Janie struggles in her role as daughter and mother, and Raymer ponders a new life and a violent death. The audiobook shines as the work of an excellent novelist delivered by an exceptional vocal artist. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Publishing. Dreamscape is an award-winning independent publisher and multimedia studio that is committed to producing a diverse catalog of high-quality audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie, Olivia, and Packaging/Shelf Subscription Coordinator Keila create Spooky Book Flights! Book flights are a stack of three books curated around a certain theme or topic. Today, they're choosing books with eerie vibes to help you celebrate the season. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, visit our website (you can type “episode 446” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode): Annie's Spooky Book Flight - $83.98 Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon Olivia's Spooky Book Flight - $75.98 Dead Water by C.A. Fletcher Cold People by Tom Rob Smith Mister Magic by Kiersten White Keila's Spooky Book Flight - $74.00 The September House by Carissa Orlando A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine Thank you to this week's sponsor, Visit Thomasville. Fall is a wonderful time to see Thomasville, Georgia!  If it's time to hit the road for a quick getaway, we're exactly what you're looking for! You can rekindle your spark, explore historical sites, indulge in dining out, shop at amazing independent stores, and finally relax and unwind. There's no better getaway than Thomasville!  Whether you live close by or are passing through, we hope you'll visit beautiful Thomasville, Georgia – it's worth the trip! Plan your visit at ThomasvilleGa.com. 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 Empire Falls by Richard Russo. Olivia is reading The Professor by Lauren Nossett. Keila is reading Fourth Wing 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.  

A friend of his wife gave his novel Empire Falls to Ivanka Trump. Her response: “This is a book about poor people. Why would I want to read a book about poor people?” Some bad reviews are better than good reviews. Presented with the Center for Fiction and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

Hear about American labor struggles from the early 1900s to now, from New York to Montana and beyond, in a variety of books suggested by Cheryl McKeon of the Book House of Stuyvesant Paza. Selections discussed: "Nickel & Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" (Barbara Ehrenreich, non-fiction, 2001); "Uprising" (novel about Triangle Shirt Factory fire; Margaret Peterson Haddix, 2007); "Working 9 to 5: A Women's Movement, a Labor Union, and the Iconic Movie (Ellen Cassedy, 2022); "Gilded Mountain: A Novel" (Kate Manning, 2022); "The Women of the Copper Country" (Mary Doria Russell, 2020); "The Four Winds" (novel, Kristin Hannah, 2021); "The Whistling Season" (Ivan Doig, 2016); "Somebody's Fool" (novel, Richard Russo, 2023), and "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type" (a children's book about farm animals striking for better conditions! by Doreen Cronin, 2000). For more details, visit the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza, Market Block Books in Troy, or www.bhny.com. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Somebody's Fool is our favorite in this outstanding trilogy by Richard Russo.

We reunite with the author and learn about his latest work

Saying goodbye to a favorite character or location can be one of the hardest parts of finishing a great read. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new books that give us the chance to revisit some familiar faces and well-loved places: Crook Manifesto, by Colson Whitehead, and Somebody's Fool, by Richard Russo. All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Russo won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel Empire Falls and millions have followed the saga of Donald “Sully” Sullivan. Richard Russo discusses Somebody's Fool, the third book in his North Bath trilogy.

In "Somebody's Fool," the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of "Empire Falls" returns to North Bath, in upstate New York, and to the characters that captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers in his beloved best sellers "Nobody's Fool" and "Everybody's Fool." Richard Russo will be in conversation with WAMC's Joe Donahue on August 3 at 5 p.m. at The Spa Little Theatre in Saratoga Springs, presented by Northshire Bookstore and SPAC.

“If you're going to go to dark places… then you better go armed with humor.”  Pulitzer Prize Winner Richard Russo returns to upstate New York with Somebody's Fool, which reunites readers with beloved characters as they continue their lives in North Bath. Russo joins us to talk about the idea of a regional writer, getting the atmosphere of small towns, writing humor and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    Featured Books (Episode): Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo  Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo  Everybody's Fool by Richard Russo  Heartland by Sarah Smarsh 

7/24/23: Greenfield Mayor Roxanne Wedegartner on floods, foreclosures and housing for new immigrants; Professor Amilcar Shabazz on reparations in Amherst & Northampton; Miles Taylor on “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump;” Megan Zinn with Richard Russo on “Somebody's Fool.”

Richard Russo is one of our favorite authors, and his new book in this series is coming out next week.

(This video originally aired on August 22, 2022. We are replaying it, along with a few other of our most significant interviews of the past year, while Wealthion host Adam Taggart is dealing with a death in the family). In this webinar, Lance Roberts & his team from Real Investment Advisors (Danny Ratliff & Richard Russo) provide an in-depth presentation of success strategies for retirement planning. They also field Q&A from the live audience. ************************************************* At Wealthion, we show you how to protect and build your wealth by learning from the world's top experts on finance and money. Each week we add new videos that provide you with access to the foremost specialists in investing, economics, the stock market, real estate and personal finance. We offer exceptional interviews and explainer videos that dive deep into the trends driving today's markets, the economy, and your own net worth. We give you strategies for financial security, practical answers to questions like “how to grow my investments?”, and effective solutions for wealth building tailored to 'regular' investors just like you. There's no doubt that it's a very challenging time right now for the average investor. Above and beyond the recent economic impacts of COVID, the new era of record low interest rates, runaway US debt and US deficits, and trillions of dollars in monetary and fiscal stimulus stimulus has changed the rules of investing by dangerously distorting the Dow index, the S&P 500, and nearly all other asset prices. Can prices keep rising, or is there a painful reckoning ahead? Let us help you prepare your portfolio just in case the future brings one or more of the following: inflation, deflation, a bull market, a bear market, a market correction, a stock market crash, a real estate bubble, a real estate crash, an economic boom, a recession, a depression, or another global financial crisis. Put the wisdom from the money & markets experts we feature on Wealthion into action by scheduling a free consultation with Wealthion's endorsed financial advisors, who will work with you to determine the right next steps for you to take in building your wealth. SCHEDULE YOUR FREE WEALTH CONSULTATION with Wealthion's endorsed financial advisors here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wealthion.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMeK-HGHfUFFArZ91rzv5A?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Adam on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/menlobear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/Wealthion-109680281218040⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #retirement #retirementplanning #investing ************************************************* IMPORTANT NOTE: The information and opinions offered in this video by Wealthion or its interview guests are for educational purposes ONLY and should NOT be construed as personal financial advice. We strongly recommend that any potential decisions and actions you may take in your investment portfolio be conducted under the guidance and supervision of a quality professional financial advisor in good standing with the securities industry. When it comes to investing, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any historical returns, expected returns, or probability projections may not reflect actual future performance. All investments involve risk and may result in partial or total loss.

Maine, with its picturesque landscapes and charming small towns, has been a source of inspiration for numerous authors throughout history. From Pulitzer Prize-winning novels to chilling horror stories, the state of Maine has served as a rich backdrop for literary exploration. In this blog post, we will delve into five captivating books that take place in Maine, each offering a unique perspective on the state and its people. "Empire Falls" by Richard Russo:Set in the fictional town of Empire Falls, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel introduces readers to Miles Roby, the manager of a local diner. Through Roby's eyes, we witness the intricacies of small-town life, the complexities of family relationships, and the struggles of the working class. Richard Russo skillfully portrays the charm and idiosyncrasies of Maine's inhabitants while delving into themes of identity, love, and redemption. "The Country of the Pointed Firs" by Sarah Orne Jewett:Regarded as a masterpiece of regional literature, this classic novella is set in a small coastal town in Maine. The story revolves around a woman who spends her summer in the town, immersing herself in its culture and forming connections with the locals. Sarah Orne Jewett's evocative prose captures the essence of Maine's coastal beauty and paints a vivid portrait of the community that inhabits it. "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King:No exploration of Maine literature would be complete without mentioning the master of horror himself, Stephen King. "Pet Sematary" takes readers to a small town in Maine, where a doctor and his family move to start a new life. They soon stumble upon a pet cemetery with a dark secret, leading to a chilling chain of events. Stephen King's ability to blend supernatural elements with human emotions creates a captivating and spine-tingling tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout:Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, "Olive Kitteridge" is a collection of interconnected stories set in the fictional town of Crosby, Maine. Elizabeth Strout weaves together the lives of various characters, with Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, serving as a central figure. Through these narratives, Strout explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The book offers a poignant and intimate portrait of small-town life in Maine, highlighting the joys and sorrows that shape its inhabitants. "The Cider House Rules" by John Irving:This thought-provoking novel is set in rural Maine and follows the life of Homer Wells, an orphan who grows up in an orphanage run by Dr. Wilbur Larch. As Homer grapples with his own identity and morality, the book delves into sensitive topics such as abortion and the complexities of family dynamics. John Irving's vivid descriptions of the Maine countryside serve as a backdrop for a compelling exploration of societal norms, personal choices, and the search for one's place in the world. These five books offer a diverse range of narratives set in the enchanting state of Maine. From introspective character studies to haunting tales of horror, each story captures a unique facet of Maine's landscapes, communities, and people. Whether you're seeking a heartwarming tale or a chilling read, these books will transport you to the captivating world of Maine and leave a lasting impression. View the blog post on my website...  https://www.makemaineyourhome.com/5-books-that-are-set-in-maine/ To checkout listings all over southern Maine visit: https://www.makemaineyourhome.realestate/ Check out our Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MakeMaineYourHome You can listen to the audio podcast on any podcast app.  Just search for Make Maine Your Home. Be sure to subscribe, like, share and tell your friends.   To contact Doug you can call or text to 207-838-5593, email to doug@makemaineyourhome.com or check out http://www.MakeMaineYourHome.com. 00:00-00:33 5 books that are set in Maine00:33-00:59 Empire Falls00:59-01:23 The Country of the Pointed Firs01:23-01:55 Pet Sematary01:55-02:20 Olive Kitteridge02:20-03:12 Cider House Rules

Writers on a New England Stage with Richard Russo, recorded live at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH in 2007. This archive program may still contain broadcast elements from the time it aired.

“I was particularly interested in writing comedy,” says Paul Lieberstein, who is best known for playing Toby on The Office, but has writing credits for King of the Hill, The Drew Carey Show, Ghosted, Space Force, and now, Lucky Hank. “Some Woody Allen short stories and Steve Martin albums. In my twenties, I learned there was a whole industry there, and you can do that, because I had never met anyone who had done that.” Aaron Zelman, the co-creator of Lucky Hank, also realized he enjoyed writing at an early age, even though he didn't feel he was particularly good at it back then. “It dovetailed with my interest in theater, acting, and improv. The more I did it, the more I wanted to be the one creating what I was doing.” Zelman's additional writing credits include Law & Order, Criminal Minds, Damages, and The Killing.  Together, they have adapted Richard Russo's 1997 novel, Straight Man. The novel can be described as follows: “William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character—he is a born anarchist—and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.” The writers say the book is hilarious, but also very serious. “There are some darker, underlying currents of what defines the character of Hank and we didn't want to shy away from that.” Lieberstein says, “Something we had to talk about a lot was the storytelling demands of the hour, like how little could we do. We just wanted to do people that are living, without soap stuff, or overarching concepts. We were stretching the boundaries of how little we could do, knowing we had an obligation to keep people interested.”  To find this balance, the writers say they rewrote every single episode about four times. “The thing that we kept coming back to, doing as little as possible, we didn't want to implode bigger concepts. We didn't want to throw in a murder. It was a challenge to keep the audience entertained without doing that stuff, but in my life, things feel pretty damn dramatic without a murder to solve. We wanted to have an audience go on that ride too.” To encompass all of this in one idea, the writers came up with the story driver: “The high drama of everyday life.” Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we're giving away 100,000 copies this year. It's based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

On this episode, we travel back to 1984, and the days when a "young adult" novel included lots of drugs and partying and absolutely no sparkly vampires or dystopian warrior girls. We're talking about Jay McInerney's groundbreaking novel, Bright Lights, Big City, and its 1988 film version starring Michael J. Fox and Keifer Sutherland. ----more---- Hello, and welcome to The 80s Movies Podcast. I am your host, Edward Havens. Thank you for listening today. The original 1984 front cover for Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City If you were a young adult in the late 1980s, there's a very good chance that you started reading more adult-y books thanks to an imprint called Vintage Contemporaries. Quality books at an affordable paperback price point, with their uniform and intrinsically 80s designed covers, bold cover and spine fonts, and mix of first-time writers and cult authors who never quite broke through to the mainstream, the Vintage Contemporary series would be an immediate hit when it was first launched in September 1984. The first set of releases would include such novels as Raymond Carver's Cathedral and Thomas McGuane's The Bushwhacked Piano, but the one that would set the bar for the entire series was the first novel by a twenty-nine year old former fact checker at the New Yorker magazine. The writer was Jay McInerney, and his novel was Bright Lights, Big City. The original 1984 front cover for Raymond Carver's Cathedral Bright Lights, Big City would set a template for twenty something writers in the 1980s. A protagonist not unlike the writer themselves, with a not-so-secret drug addiction, and often written in the second person, You, which was not a usual literary choice at the time. The nameless protagonist, You, is a divorced twenty-four year old wannabe writer who works as fact-checker at a major upscale magazine in New York City, for which he once dreamed of writing for. You is recently divorced from Amanda, an aspiring model he had met while going to school in Kansas City. You would move to New York City earlier in the year with her when her modeling career was starting to talk off. While in Paris for Fashion Week, Amanda called You to inform him their marriage was over, and that she was leaving him for another man. You continues to hope Amanda will return to him, and when it's clear she won't, he not only becomes obsessed with everything about her that left in their apartment, he begins to slide into reckless abandon at the clubs they used to frequent, and becoming heavily addicted to cocaine, which then affects his performance at work. A chance encounter with Amanda at an event in the city leads You to a public humiliation, which makes him starts to realize that his behavior is not because his wife left him, but a manifestation of the grief he still feels over his mother's passing the previous year. You had gotten married to a woman he hardly knew because he wanted to make his mother happy before she died, and he was still unconsciously grieving when his wife's leaving him triggered his downward spiral. Bright Lights, Big City was an immediate hit, one of the few paperback-only books to ever hit the New York Times best-seller chart. Within two years, the novel had sold more than 300,000 copies, and spawned a tidal wave of like-minded twentysomething writers becoming published. Bret Easton Ellis might have been able to get his first novel Less Than Zero published somewhere down the line, but it was McInerney's success that would cause Simon and Schuster to try and duplicate Vintage's success, which they would. Same with Tana Janowitz, whose 1986 novel Slaves of New York was picked up by Crown Publishers looking to replicate the success of McInerney and Ellis, despite her previous novel, 1981's American Dad, being completely ignored by the book buying public at that time. While the book took moments from his life, it wasn't necessarily autobiographical. For example, McInerney had been married to a fashion model in the early 1980s, but they would meet while he attended Syracuse University in the late 1970s. And yes, McInerney would do a lot of blow during his divorce from his wife, and yes, he would get fired from The New Yorker because of the effects of his drug addiction. Yes, he was partying pretty hard during the times that preceded the writing of his first novel. And yes, he would meet a young woman who would kinda rescue him and get him on the right path.  But there were a number of details about McInerney's life that were not used for the book. Like how the author studied writing with none other than Raymond Carver while studying creative writing at Syracuse, or how his family connections would allow him to submit blind stories to someone like George Plimpton at the Paris Review, and not only get the story read but published. And, naturally, any literary success was going to become a movie at some point. For Bright Lights, it would happen almost as soon as the novel was published. Robert Lawrence, a vice president at Columbia Pictures in his early thirties, had read the book nearly cover to cover in a single sitting, and envisioned a film that could be “The Graduate” of his generation, with maybe a bit of “Lost Weekend” thrown in. But the older executives at the studio balked at the idea, which they felt would be subversive and unconventional. They would, however, buy in when Lawrence was able to get mega-producer Jerry Weintraub to be a producer on the film, who in turn was able to get Joel Schumacher, who had just finished filming St. Elmo's Fire for the studio, to direct, and get Tom Cruise, who was still two years away from Top Gun and megastardom, to play the main character. McInerney was hired to write the script, and he and Schumacher and Cruise would even go on club crawls in New York City to help inform all of the atmosphere they were trying to capture with the film. In 1985, Weintraub would be hired by United Artists to become their new chief executive, and Bright Lights would be one of the properties he would be allowed to take with him to his new home. But since he was now an executive, Weintraub would need to hire a new producer to take the reigns on the picture. Enter Sydney Pollack. By 1985, Sydney Pollack was one of the biggest directors in Hollywood. With films like They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Jeremiah Johnson, Three Days of the Condor, The Electric Horseman and Tootsie under his belt, Pollock could get a film made, and get it seen by audiences. At least, as a director. At this point in his career, he had only ever produced one movie, Alan Rudolph's 1984 musical drama Songwriter, which despite being based on the life of Willie Nelson, and starring Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Rip Torn, barely grossed a tenth of its $8m budget. And Pollock at that moment was busy putting the finishing touches on his newest film, an African-based drama featuring Meryl Streep and longtime Pollock collaborator Robert Redford. That film, Out of Africa, would win seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, in March 1986, which would keep Pollock and his producing partner Mark Rosenberg's attention away from Bright Lights for several months. Once the hype on Out of Africa died down, Pollock and Rosenberg got to work getting Bright Lights, Big City made. Starting with hiring a new screenwriter, a new director, and a new leading actor. McInerney, Schumacher and Cruise had gotten tired of waiting. Ironically, Cruise would call on Pollock to direct another movie he was waiting to make, also based at United Artists, that he was going to star in alongside Dustin Hoffman. That movie, of course, is Rain Man, and we'll dive into that movie another time. Also ironically, Weintraub would not last long as the CEO of United Artists. Just five months after becoming the head of the studio, Weintraub would tire of the antics of Kirk Kerkorian, the owner of United Artists and its sister company, MGM, and step down. Kerkorian would not let Weintraub take any of the properties he brought from Columbia to his new home, the eponymously named mini-major he'd form with backing from Columbia. With a new studio head in place, Pollock started to look for a new director. He would discover that director in Joyce Chopra, who, after twenty years of making documentaries, made her first dramatic narrative in 1985. Smooth Talk was an incredible coming of age drama, based on a story by Joyce Carol Oates, that would make a star out of then seventeen-year-old Laura Dern. UA would not only hire her to direct the film but hire her husband, Tom Cole, who brilliantly adapted the Oates story that was the basis for Smooth Talk, to co-write the screenplay with his wife. While Cole was working on the script, Chopra would have her agent send a copy of McInerney's book to Michael J. Fox. This wasn't just some random decision. Chopra knew she needed a star for this movie, and Fox's agent just happened to be Chopra's agent. That'd be two commissions for the agent if it came together, and a copy of the book was delivered to Fox's dressing room on the Family Ties soundstage that very day. Fox loved the book, and agreed to do the film. After Alex P. Keaton and Marty McFly and other characters he had played that highlighted his good looks and pleasant demeanor, he was ready to play a darker, more morally ambiguous character. Since the production was scheduled around Fox's summer hiatus from the hit TV show, he was in. For Pollock and United Artists, this was a major coup, landing one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. But the project was originally going to be Toronto standing in for New York City for less than $7m with a lesser known cast. Now, it was going to be a $15m with not only Michael J. Fox but also Keifer Sutherland, who was cast as Tad, the best friend of the formerly named You, who would now known as Jamie Conway, and would be shot on location in New York City. The film would also feature Phoebe Cates as Jamie's model ex-wife, William Hickey, Kelly Lynch. But there was a major catch. The production would only have ten weeks to shoot with Fox, as he was due back in Los Angeles to begin production on the sixth season of Family Ties.  He wasn't going to do that thing he did making a movie and a television show at the same time like he did with Back to the Future and Family Ties in 1984 and 1985. Ten weeks and not a day more. Production on the film would begin on April 13th, 1987, to get as much of the film shot while Fox was still finishing Family Ties in Los Angeles. He would be joining the production at the end of the month. But Fox never get the chance to shoot with Chopra. After three weeks of production, Chopra, her husband, and her cinematographer James Glennon, who had also shot Smooth Talk, were dismissed from the film. The suits at United Artists were not happy with the Fox-less footage that was coming out of New York, and were not happy with the direction of the film. Cole and Chopra had removed much of the nightlife and drug life storyline, and focused more on the development of Jamie as a writer. Apparently, no one at the studio had read the final draft of the script before shooting began. Cole, the screenwriter, says it was Pollock, the producer, who requested the changes, but in the end, it would be not the Oscar-winning filmmaker producing the movie that would be released but the trio of newer creatives. Second unit footage would continue to shoot around New York City while the studio looked for a new director. Ironically, days after Chopra was fired, the Directors Guild of America had announced that if they were not able to sign a new agreement with the Producers Guild before the end of the current contract on June 30th, the directors were going on strike. So now United Artists were really under the gun. After considering such filmmakers as Belgian director Ulu Grosbard, who had directed Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro in Falling in Love, and Australian director Bruce Beresford, whose films had included Breaker Morant and Tender Mercies, they would find their new director in James Bridges, whose filmography included such critical and financial success as The Paper Chase, The China Syndrome and Urban Cowboy, but had two bombs in a row in 1984's Mike's Murder and 1985's Perfect. He needed a hit, and this was the first solid directing offer in three years. He'd spend the weekend after his hiring doing some minor recasting, including bringing in John Houseman, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Paper Chase, as well as Swoosie Kurtz, Oscar-winning actors Jason Robards and Dianne Weist, and Tracy Pollan, Fox's co-star on Family Ties, who would shortly after the filming of Bright Lights become Mrs. Michael J. Fox, although in the film, she would be cast not as a love interest to her real-life boyfriend's character but as the wife of Keifer Sutherland's character. After a week of rewriting McInerney's original draft of the screenplay from the Schumacher days, principal photography re-commenced on the film. And since Bridges would be working with famed cinematographer Gordon Willis, who had shot three previous movies with Bridges as well as the first two Godfather movies and every Woody Allen movie from Annie Hall to The Purple Rose of Cairo, it was also decided that none of Chopra's footage would be used. Everything would start back on square one. And because of the impending Directors Guild strike, he'd have only thirty-six days, a tad over five weeks, to film everything. One of the lobby cards from the movie version of Bright Lights, Big City And they were able to get it all done, thanks to some ingenious measures. One location, the Palladium concert hall on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, would double as three different nightclubs, two discotheques and a dinner club. Instead of finding six different locations, which would loading cameras and lights from one location to another, moving hundreds of people as well, and then setting the lights and props again, over and over, all they would have to do is re-decorate the area to become the next thing they needed. Bridges would complete the film that day before the Directors Guild strike deadline, but the strike would never happen. But there would be some issue with the final writing credits. While Bridges had used McInerney's original screenplay as a jumping off point, the writer/director had really latched on to the mother's death as the emotional center of the movie. Bridges' own grandmother had passed away in 1986, and he found writing those scenes to be cathartic for his own unresolved issues. But despite the changes Bridges would make to the script, including adding such filmmaking tropes as flashbacks and voiceovers, and having the movie broken up into sections by the use of chapter titles being typed out on screen, the Writers Guild would give sole screenwriting credit to Jay McInerney. As post-production continued throughout the fall, the one topic no one involved in the production wanted to talk about or even acknowledge was the movie version of Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero that rival studio 20th Century Fox had been making in Los Angeles. It had a smaller budget, a lesser known filmmaker, a lesser known cast lead by Andrew McCarthy and Jami Gertz, and a budget half the size. If their film was a hit, that could be good for this one. And if their film wasn't a hit? Well, Bright Lights was the trendsetter. It was the one that sold more copies. The one that saw its author featured in more magazines and television news shows. How well did Less Than Zero do when it was released into theatres on November 6th, 1987? Well, you're just going to have to wait until next week's episode. Unless you're listening months or years after they were published, and are listening to episodes in reverse order. Then you already know how it did, but let's just say it wasn't a hit but it wasn't really a dud either. Bridges would spend nearly six months putting his film together, most of which he would find enjoyable, but he would have trouble deciding which of two endings he shot would be used. His preferred ending saw Jamie wandering through the streets of New York City early one morning, after a long night of partying that included a confrontation with his ex-wife, where he decides that was the day he was going to get his life back on track but not knowing what he was going to do, but the studio asked for an alternative ending, one that features Jamie one year in the future, putting the finishing touches on his first novel, which we see is titled… wait for it… Bright Lights, Big City, while his new girlfriend stands behind him giving her approval. After several audience test screenings, the studio would decide to let Bridges have his ending. United Artists would an April 1st, 1988 release date, and would spend months gearing up the publicity machine. Fox and Pollan were busy finishing the final episodes of that season's Family Ties, and weren't as widely available for the publicity circuit outside of those based in Los Angeles. The studio wasn't too worried, though. Michael J. Fox's last movie, The Secret of My Success, had been released in April 1987, and had grossed $67m without his doing a lot of publicity for that one, either. Opening on 1196 screens, the film would only manage to gross $5.13m, putting it in third place behind the previous week's #1 film, Biloxi Blues with Matthew Broderick, and the Tim Burton comedy Beetlejuice, which despite opening on nearly 200 fewer screens would gross nearly $3m more. But the reviews were not great. Decent. Respectful. But not great. The New York-based critics, like David Ansen of Newsweek and Janet Maslin of the Times, would be kinder than most other critics, maybe because they didn't want to be seen knocking a film shot in their backyard. But one person would actually would praise the film and Michael J. Fox as an actor was Roger Ebert. But it wouldn't save the film. In its second week, the film would fall to fifth place, with $3.09m worth of tickets sold, and it would drop all the way to tenth place in its third week with just under $1.9m in ticket sales. Week four would see it fall to 16th place with only $862k worth of ticket sales. After that, United Artists would stop reporting grosses. The $17m film had grossed just $16.1m. Bright Lights, Big City was a milestone book for me, in large part because it made me a reader. Before Bright Lights, I read occasionally, mainly John Irving, preferring to spend most of my free time voraciously consuming every movie I could. After Bright Lights, I picked up every Vintage Contemporary book I could get my hands on. One of the checklists of Vintage Contemporary books listed in the back of a Vintage Contemporary book. And one thing that really helped out was the literal checklist of other books available from that imprint in the back of each book. Without those distinct covers, I don't know if I would have discovered some of my favorite authors like Raymond Carver and Don DeLillo and Richard Ford and Richard Russo. Even after the Vintage Contemporary line shut down years later, I continued to read. I still read today, although not as much as I would prefer. I have a podcast to work on. I remember when the movie came out that I wasn't all that thrilled with it, and it would be nearly 35 years before I revisited it again, for this episode. I can't say it's the 80s as I remember it, because I had never been to New York City by that point in my life, I had never, and still never have, done anything like cocaine. And I had only ever had like two relationships that could be considered anything of substance, let alone marriage and a divorce. But I am certain it's an 80s that I'm glad I didn't know. Mainly because Jamie's 80s seemed rather boring and inconsequential. Fox does the best he can with the material, but he is not the right person for the role. As I watched it again, I couldn't help but wonder what if the roles were reversed. What if Keifer Sutherland played Jamie and Michael J. Fox played the friend? That might have been a more interesting movie, but Sutherland was not yet at that level of stardom. Thank you for joining us. We'll talk again next week, when Episode 95, on the novel and movie version of Less Than Zero is released. Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about Bright Lights, Big City, both the book and the movie, as well as other titles in the Vintage Contemporary book series. The full cover, back and front, of Richard Ford's 1986 The Sportswriter, which would be the first of four novels about Frank Bascombe, a failed novelist who becomes a sportswriter. The second book in the series, 1995's Independence Day, would win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the first of only two times the same book would win both awards the same year. The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment. Thank you again. Good night.  

In this webinar, Lance Roberts & his team from Real Investment Advisors (Danny Ratliff & Richard Russo) provide an in-depth presentation of success strategies for retirement planning. They also field Q&A from the live audience. SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Wealthion's endorsed financial advisors at https://www.wealthion.com

Episode 83 Notes and Links to Larry Strauss' Work           On Episode 83 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Larry Strauss, who he formerly coached high school against (!), and the two talk about Larry's childhood in New York City, his early success in writing for television and for film, inspiration from his family, his coaching and teaching and mentoring at the high school level, and his latest stellar work, Light Man, coming out in November of this year.            A former subway graffiti artist, stand-up comic, television writer, ghost writer, and corporate poet, Larry Strauss writes the kind of fiction he likes to read: funny, surprising, insightful, and poignant. He teaches high school English and coaches basketball in South Central Los Angeles, and tries to recruit kids out of materialism, violence and despair and into the world of ideas. Strauss grew up on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, then attended high school and college in Los Angeles. He wrote for television in his twenties, including three episodes of the first season of Transformers, then ghost-wrote and co-authored books with a doctor, nutritionist, financial planner, and two psychologists. He also wrote The Magic Man, a biography of Magic Johnson for the mid-grade audience. His first three novels, Fake Out, One Man One Vote, and Unfinished Business were published by Holloway House Books, now a subsidiary of Kennsington. His fourth novel, Now's the Time, was published by Kearney Street Books. Strauss lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Eleanor, and their son. See more about him @ Larrystrauss.net     Larry Strauss' Amazon Page   " ‘My mother never gave up on my brother. Because of her, I never give up on my students.' " Mother's Day 2019 for USA Today   Larry Strauss' HuffPost Page with Previous Articles   At about 2:55, Larry discusses his childhood growing up in New York City and his early relationship with words   At about 8:15, Larry discusses some early triumphs in writing at a young age, followed by a bit of humbling and Hollywood fickleness before he found his place as a writer   At about 11:10, Larry describes an early project that drew Hollywood interest in the late 80s/early 90s   At about 12:40, Larry describes his work in writing for the Transformers' series, including the “stretch” in writing for different genres and audiences   At about 15:50, Larry is asked about balancing writing and teaching, with both pulling a great amount of time   At about 17:10, Larry talks about writing and thinking and their close connections, as well as his process for stimulating ideas    At about 20:00, Larry discusses his editing process and his “I'm almost done” attitude that impels him to keep working   At about 23:45, Pete asks Larry what his high school students are reading and enjoying, as well as what Larry himself is enjoying-he mentions Bryan Stephenson's Just Mercy and Richard Russo and the fiction from The New Yorker   At about 26:00, Larry describes his feelings upon writing a tribute to his mother in 2019, and how his mother was someone who didn't ask for and seek credit for the TV characters, especially Mrs. Garrett on Facts of Life, that she played, and how hard she worked at her craft    At about 28:55, Larry talks about her mother and father's devotion to their special needs' child, in times where services and resources were often lacking   At about 31:15, Larry talks about how he learned from his parents skills that have helped him in his teaching/mentorship   At about 32:10, Larry outlines his upcoming book, due in November, Light Man, and the opening scene that serves as the inciting incident   At about 35:55, Pete compliments Larry on his world building in the way that he creates an environment reminiscent of 1970s New York City   At about 37:54, Pete wonders if Al, the book's narrator and protagonist, was intended as an “Everyman”   At about 41:35, Larry outlines Trudy's story, with Trudy being a major character in the book as Al's girlfriend and someone who is “walking wounded”   At about 43:50, Pete and Larry talk about Al's relationship with Mike, and Mike's enigmatic personality    At about 46:50, Larry explains the links between real life and the conspiratorial thinking of Mike from the book   At about 48:45, Pete and Larry analyze the importance of “The Roach Lady” in the book as a woman who feels wronged by the world and by her family   At about 50:28, Larry recounts a few anecdotes from his own life that parallel the book's idea of celebrities as public figures who can be abused at will by society's idea of entitlement     At about 55:35, Pete references Heath Ledger's role in Batman in comparison to Arlene “The Roach Lady” and channeling emotions   At about 56:35, Pete wonders what draws Trudy to Arlene in the book   At about 58:15, Pete and Larry discuss the book's ending and the balance between optimism and pessimism, and Larry talks about the rays of optimism and how he felt upon finishing writing the book   At about 1:01:00, Larry reads an excerpt from the book's first chapter       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 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.  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. I'm excited to share my next episode with Noah Hurowitz, a journalist based in New York City. He covered the trial of El Chapo for Rolling Stone, and his first book, El Chapo, The Untold Story of the World's Most Infamous Drug Lord, was published in July. The episode will air on October 8.  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.