This morning I spent an hour with Art Plotnik, author of many books including his recently revised and updated The Elements of Expression.
Here is the interview, podcast for you. And at the end is a Halloween story. The book is The Rattlebone Rock, which I bought for Travis when he was a little boy. I loved it then, for its whimsy and the rhythm of the words. See what you think.
Broadcast date: October 31, 2012
Last night my 18-year-old Travis said, Do you notice how it’s not summer anymore, how two days ago, it felt different? Felt like fall?
I did. And I like it. I was born in October–on the ides of October–and love all the things associated with the autumn season. When I was a kid in Pennsylvania, we’d rake leaves into huge piles and jump from the swing set into them.
The other clue that tells me it’s the fall is the current obsession with pumpkin lattes. I never had one–until this morning. Last week pumpkin lattes made the news: Starbucks had sold out of them and people were Freaking Out. There was more in the news about this than the hitting-the-roof gas prices.
This morning my friend Caroline Leavitt, on Facebook, dedicated a post to pumpkin spice lattes and that did it. I had to have one. Only, I wanted to make one. The sugar in Starbucks’ coffee drinks just about does me in. So I found a recipe online (thank you Recipe Girl) and adapted it to my low sugar, low fat diet.
Brew a cup of coffee, however you do. I use an espresso maker from IKEA and a frother, from IKEA.
Then, mix 1/2 cup nonfat milk, 1 tablespoon pumpkin (I use Trader Joe’s organic pumpkin in a can), 2 teaspoons honey (or brown sugar), 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix and heat on the stove (or in a microwave; I don’t have a microwave), then froth with a frother. Pour onto the coffee, sprinkle with cinnamon, if you like cinnamon, and major yum.
Yum indeed. Now I see what all the hubbub is all about.
I’ve loved Abigail Thomas’ writing for a long time–her memoirs are great books and lessons on how to write memoir, and her little book, Thinking About Memoir, is sweet too. Here she is, mentioned in the Times‘ blog. The piece is good regardless…about writing simply and with brevity.
Caitlin Rother, true-crime writer and author of “Lost Girls,” talks with my co-host Marrie Stone about how she chooses her subject matters, the psychological impact of writing true crime, interviewing violent offenders, and what she took away from the tragic case of two San Diego teenagers lost to a mentally ill predator.
(Broadcast date: September, 2012)
Claire Vaye Watkins, author of the short story collection “Battleborn,” talks with my co-host Marrie Stone about family history and how it shapes our stories, her father’s time in the Manson family, the importance of physical and emotional distance from your work, how you know where a story should end, and other heavy topics.
(Writers on Writing broadcast date: September 26, 2012)
If you’re in Southern California this coming Sunday, come to the West Hollywood Book Fair. Lots of panels and literary company. Free parking, a free fun day in the sun. My memoir panel with Claire Bidwell Smith, Pamela Ribon, and Judith Hannan is at 11 on the Eclectic Stage. Come by!
On October 23 at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon at Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar, our guest will be Martin J. Smith, author of The Wild Duck Chase. Marty is also editor at Orange Coast magazine so he’ll be talking about his book, writing narrative nonfiction and essays. More here.
Palm Springs Noir, an anthology published by Akashic Books, edited by Barbara, also features her short story “The Water Holds You Still.” Order anywhere you buy books.
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Get in the flow with typewriter music by Travis Barrett.
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