Jacob Rubin and Angela Flournoy

Jacob Rubin , author of the novel The Poser, talks to Nicole Nelson about the value of re-reading, how his protagonist Giovanni emerged from his work on a short story, and the comfort of rituals when writing (and in life). Then Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House, discusses finding the right first chapter, how studying The Brothers Karamazov helped her map the story of her novel, and the importance of submitting to--and not resisting--the revision process.

Angela and Barbara DeMarci-Barrett will be at the LA Times Festival of Books. 
Angela's panel is Sunday, April 19 at 3:30 (Fiction: The Past in Our Present Hoffman Hall )
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett will moderate Fiction: Perfectly Flawed Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Annenberg Auditorium.

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(Broadcast date: April 15, 2015)

Pulitzer prize winning poet Stephen Dunn

Pulitzer prize winning poet Stephen Dunn, author of Lines of Defense, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about crafting poems, including writing from your own POV or using a persona, revision, the best training for a poet, and more.

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(Broadcast date: April 8, 2014)

John Burley and Kelly Link talk with Marrie Stone

Marrie Stone interviews novelist John Burley, author of The Forgetting Place.  Dr. Burley discusses creating an authentic setting, managing suspense, creating compelling characters, and more.  In the second half, Kelly Link discusses her short story collection, Get In Trouble.  She discusses her draw to the fantastical, titling stories, what makes a compelling story, endings, and more.

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(Broadcast date: March 4, 2015)

Jill Alexander Essbaum and Michele Young-Stone on Writers on Writing

Poet and debut novelist Jill Alexander Essbaum, author of Hausfrau, joins co-host Nicole Nelson to talk about the importance of the small Swiss town setting for her story and her protagonist Anna, how the worst times in our lives are probably the most important, and how a love of words unites her work in poetry and fiction. Then author Michele Young-Stone talks about her latest novel, Above Us Only Sky, balancing research when writing a novel, exploring the concept of "home" in her work, and approaching the page with confidence.

Jill will be at the LA Times Festival of Books; her panel is Sunday, April 19 at 12:30 (Conversation 2042).

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(Broadcast date: April 1, 2015)