Month: July 2018

Though SOUTHERNMOST, the story of preacher Asher Sharp, took a while to take shape, it’s a tale Silas House was born to tell. He and James discuss writing about LGBTQ issues, finding the right angle for a novel, putting characters in trouble, working with your reader, and grieving the loss of conversation. Plus, a great talk with Algonquin Books executive editor Kathy Pories.

Silas House

Silas and James discuss:

Thomas Hardy

Willa Cather

JONAH’S GOURD VINE by Zora Neale Hurston

WINTER LIGHT dir by Ingmar Bergman

Tom Petty

Mamas & the Papas

Jim James

“Rain” by Patty Griffin

Joni Mitchell

Celia Cruz

Jason Isbell

My Morning Jacket

Dolly Parton

Kathy Pories, Algonquin Books

Kathy and James discuss: 

Sewanee Writers’ Conference

Wyatt Prunty

Philipp Meyer

Ron Rash

Mary Robison

Alexander Chee

Newtonville Books

Christine Schutt

Jill McCorkle

Workman Publishing

LIKE WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen

Anne Winslow

THE OPTIMISTIC DECADE by Heather Abel

OTHER PEOPLE’S LOVE AFFAIRS by D. Wystan Owen

In the most clarifying conversation James has had about the process of learning to be a writer, Sarah Ann Strickley discusses her story collection, FALL TOGETHER, as well as the dangers of the Muse, the joys of plot and structure, finding your voice, giving up your heroes, and being Superman’s neighbor. Plus, they nerd out over Marilynne Robinson’s HOUSEKEEPING. Then, past guests provide summer reading recommendations.

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Sarah Anne Strickley

Sarah and James discuss:

Ian Stansel

Raymond Carver

The Cure

Joy Division

The University of Iowa

Emerson College

Joseph Campbell

Darrell Spencer

COUNTRY DARK by Chris Offutt

HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson

“Hover” by Nell Freudenberger

Karen Russell

Carmen Maria Machado

Laura van den Berg

Fortress of Solitude

Superman

Superman’s Neighbor

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Julia Fine, author of WHAT SHOULD BE WILD (ep. 58) 

THE LUMINARIES by Eleanor Catton

THE WAKE by Paul Kingsnorth

INVITATION TO A BONFIRE by Adrienne Celt

Xhenet Aliu, author of BRASS (ep. 50) 

WATCHMEN written by Alan Moore, art by David Gibbons, colorist John Higgins

A RIVER OF STARS by Vanessa Hua

THE INCENDIARIES by R.O. Kwon

Patrick Crerand, author of THE PAPER LIFE THEY LEAD (ep. 56) 

PANORAMA by Steve Kistulentz

BRAZEN CREATURE by Anne Barngrover

BAD STORIES by Steve Almond

PRIEST DADDY by Patricia Lockwood

THE INFORMATION by James Gleick

Mark Powell, author of SMALL TREASONS (ep. 11) 

FLORIDA by Lauren Groff

WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje

OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk

MY LIFE AS A RUSSIAN NOVEL by Emmanuel Carrere

KINGDOM by Emmanuel Carrere

BLUETS by Maggie Nelson

THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth

Kirstin Chen, author of BURY WHAT WE CANNOT TAKE (ep. 55) 

MOTHER OF INVENTION by Caeli Wolfson Widger

SUICIDE CLUB by Rachel Heng

AN OCEAN OF MINUTES by Thea Lim

WHITE DANCING ELEPHANTS by Chaya Bhuvaneswar

Aja Gabel, author of THE ENSEMBLE (ep. 59) 

CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS by Sally Rooney

A SEPARATION by Katie Kitamura

Michael Nye, author of ALL THE CASTLES BURNED (ep. 52) 

ASYMMETRY by Lisa Halliday

SWEET & LOW by Nick White

INDIAN HORSE by Richard Wagamese

REMEMBERING POETS by Donald Hall

Annie Hartnett, author of RABBIT CAKE (ep. 30) 

THERE, THERE by Tommy Orange

WHO IS VERA KELLY? by Rosalie Knecht

THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW by Brendan Matthews

LESS by Andrew Sean Greer

THE MARS ROOM by Rachel Kushner