Writers on Writing

Ann Hood and Margot Livesey

Posted October 6 2016 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Novelists Ann Hood and Margot Livesey join Marrie Stone to talk about their latest novels, The Book That Matters Most and Mercury.

Ann Hood talks about book clubs, the books that have mattered most to her at various points in her life, and her mother and daughter coming-of-age story.  She shares what she’s learned over the years, the progress women have made over the past decades, and lots of wonderful writing advice.

Margot Livesey joins in the second half to talk about tackling a different and more complex kind of infidelity in marriage, how an article on gun control sparked this novel, what concerns have haunted and intrigued her over the years, and much more.  (Please note the last few moments of our interview were lost, so it ends a bit abruptly, but you can find out more about Margot and her book tour at her website, www.margotlivesey.com).

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Broadcast Date: September 28, 2016
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Memoirist Rob Spillman and lit agent Leigh Eisenman on Writers on Writing

Posted September 28 2016 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Rob Spillman, author of All Tomorrow’s Parties and NYC literary agent Leigh Eisenman talks with Barbara about the art and craft of writing memoir, Berlin, how being an editor helps or hinders being an author, what agents are looking for, and more.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 21, 2016)

Nora Baskin and Alexander Weinstein on Writers on Writing

Posted September 22 2016 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Young adult author Nora Raleigh Baskin joins Marrie Stone to discuss her new middle-grade novel, Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story.  She discusses survivor’s guilt, unprocessed emotion, how books for young readers can be the best way to explore difficult subject-matter, rules for middle grade writers, and more.

In the second half, Alexander Weinstein joins Marrie to talk about his debut short story collection, Children of the New World.  He talks about experimental fiction, inventive structures for a story, point of view choices, knowing when things aren’t working, as well as a host of practical advice for writers.

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(Broadcast date: September 7, 2016)

Dana Johnson and Anna Solomon on Writers on Writing

Posted September 13 2016 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Dana Johnson, author of the short story collection In the Not Quite Dark talks with co-host Nicole Nelson about how her journalism background informs her documentarian approach to writing about place, the value of reversal in constructing tension, and her affection for the short story form.

In the second half, novelist Anna Solomon, author of Leaving Lucy Pear, talks about her process of having a good idea of the story but not overthinking it in the first draft, the various kinds of research that went into writing a story that takes place in the Prohibition Era, the art of motivating coincidence in a story when a lot is at stake, and how a Post-it note that says, “You will fail,” is her key to writing freely.

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(Broadcast date: August 31, 2016)

Jennifer Armstrong and Lev AC Rosen with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett on Writers on Writing

Posted September 1 2016 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Jennifer Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia, and Lev AC Rosen, author of Depth and The Memory Wall, talk with show host Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about their books and the art and craft–and business–of writing.

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(Broadcast date: August 24, 2016)

More on the show at www.penonfire.com