Azar Nafisi, bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran and The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books, joins Marrie Stone to talk about the importance of fiction and how it’s a guardian of memory, what is unique about American fiction, and the necessity for a public discourse about literature.

In the second half, Lydia Millet joins to talk about her latest novel, Mermaids in Paradise.  She discusses inspiration, landscape, and how connecting two disparate concepts in fiction can lead to intriguing plot lines.

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(Broadcast date: November 19, 2014)

Jayne Anne Phillips, author of Quiet Dell, and Matthew Thomas, author of We Are Not Ourselves, join Marrie Stone to talk about inspiration, craft, endurance, and their revision process.

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(Broadcast date: August 27, 2014)

Literary agent Laurie Fox and I spent the entire hour on the show talking about what she looks for in potential clients, query letters, and more.

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 (Broadcast date: Nov. 5, 2014)

Tomorrow (Weds., Nov. 5), literary agent Laurie Fox will be on the show.  9 a.m. PT, KUCI-FM, 88.9.  Here is a Q&A I did with Laurie for the November issue of The ASJA Monthly.

The station is also in the midst of a fund drive. It’s how we keep the lights on (we Public Affairs host don’t receive this $$–the station does because it gets very little from the university. Go figure.), so if you listen to the show and want it to continue, please consider donating. Even the smallest amount helps.  Call 949 824 5824 between 9 and 10 a.m. Weds morning (Pacific time) or call anytime and just say you’re donating for Writers on Writing. You can also visit kuci.org and donate there.  Thanks so very much!

 

Smith Henderson, author of Fourth of July Creek, joins co-host Marrie Stone to talk about marrying two separate stories together, the importance of plot, writing across genres, and how being steeped in the mountains of Montana and a dismal life of social work gave rise to a beautiful novel.  In the second half, James Ellroy, author of Perfidia,  talks about the definition of noir, immersing oneself in story and the past, living without technology, and how stories are born in his brain.

It’s KUCI’s semiannual Fund Drive.  For the next week and a half, your donations will support our podcasts, our station, and our show.  If you–or someone you know–has benefited from our show, now is your chance to show your support.  Someone once described “Writers on Writing” as a free and convenient MFA program.  Stellar authors bring their wisdom and advice into your home each week.  We have some awesome premiums, including gift certificates, tickets to Long Beach Confidential: An Evening of Noir, books, t-shirts, CDs, etc., which are all available for your donation.  Call us at (949) 824-5824 or donate online at www.kuci.org, and be sure to mention our show.

Thank you!

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(Broadcast date: October 29, 2014)