In 1999, Margot Livesey sat down next to James at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and changed his life forever. Margot talks about her incredible career, the role of art in the current political climate, which of her books she loves best, and her wonderful new novel, MERCURY. Then, social scientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Government at Harvard University, Ryan Enos, recommends books to understand the 2016 presidential election.

THE GUINEVERES began as a short story, but when the characters wouldn’t leave Sarah Domet alone, she saw them through an entire (fantastic) novel. Sarah tells James about her reluctance to admit she wanted to be a writer, what it was like to read from her debut novel at the high school that partially inspired it, and how she juggles writing and parenting. Plus, agent Michelle Brower of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth discusses what an agent does from signing an author to publication to promotion.

 

Sarah and James discuss: 

Amy Einhorn

Michelle Brower

Sewanee Writers’ Conference

Brock Clarke

Hannah Tinti

ONE STORY

John Milton

George Saunders

Aimee Bender

Judy Budnitz

Kelly Link

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Italo Calvino

Jorge Luis Borges

THE WOMAN WHO CUT OFF HER LEG AT THE MAIDSTONE CLUB AND OTHER STORIES by Julia Slavin

CARNIVORE DIET by Julia Slavin

THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE by Aimee Bender

LINCOLN AT THE BARDO by George Saunders

Kurt Vonnegut

IF ON A WINTER’S NIGHT A TRAVELER by Italo Calvino

LIVES OF THE SAINTS

THE STORY OF AVIS by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward

“Walking Out” by David Quammen

A FAN’S NOTES by Frederick Exley

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES by Jeffrey Eugenides

THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE by Muriel Spark

THE BOYS OF MY YOUTH by Jo Ann Beard

IN ZANESVILLE by Jo Ann Beard

Cormac McCarthy

 

Michelle & James Discuss: 

ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline

A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara

GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn

WE SHOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED by Clare Beams

THE GUINEVERES by Sarah Domet

Alexander Chee