Writers on Writing

Miriam Toews and Josh Kornbluth on Writers on Writing

Posted December 16 2014 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

Miriam Toews talks to Nicole Nelson about her new book ALL MY PUNY SORROWS. She talks about writing the hard stuff, gaining control over life through writing, and the importance of bleeding on the page. Then monologuist Josh Kornbluth talks about his influences, how he develops a show, and the comedic gold in failure. His current monologue-in-progress is Reports from the Zen Hospice: Improvs, which will run Thursdays at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley Marsh through the end of December.

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(Broadcast date: December 3, 2014)

Azar Nafisi and Lydia Millet on Writers on Writing

Posted December 12 2014 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

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)

Meg Wolitzer and Thrity Umrigar on Writers on Writing

Posted November 20 2014 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

New York Times bestselling author Meg Wolitzer joins Marrie Stone to talk about her latest young adult novel, Belzhar, her attraction to young adult fiction, Sylvia Plath, and what makes a compelling character.  Thrity Umrigar joins in the second half to discuss her latest novel, 
The Story Hour, and how the power of narrative has the ability to alter our world view.  

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(Broadcast date: October 15, 2014)

Literary agent Laurie Fox on Writers on Writing

Posted November 4 2014 by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

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!