Here is my show with Constance Hale, author of Vex, Hex, Smash, Smoosh and Tatjana Soli, author of The Forgetting Tree.

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(Broadcast date: Oct. 17, 2012)

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.

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Broadcast date: October 31, 2012

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.

 

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(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.

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(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.