The Chills at Will Podcast

https://feed.podbean.com/chillsatwillpodcast6/feed.xml

23.7K

Downloads

281

Episodes

The Chills at Will Podcast is a celebration of the visceral beauty of literature. This beauty will be examined through close reads of phrases and lines and passages from fiction and nonfiction that thrills the reader, so much so that he wants to read again and again to replicate that thrill. Each episode will focus on a different theme, such as "The Power of Flashback," "Understatement," "Cats in the Cradle," and "Chills at Will: Origin Story."

Episodes

2 days ago

Episode 262 with Rus Bradburd, Author of Big Time, His First Novel that Connects to Four Nonfiction Works Passionately and Thoroughly Exploring Intersections Between Sport, Race, and Larger Culture

2 days ago

Notes and Links to Rus Bradburd’s Work

Rus Bradburd’s latest book is the satirical novel, “Big Time.” Rus attended Chicago Public Schools for eleven years before graduating from North Park College. After coaching basketball for fourteen seasons at UTEP and New Mexico State University, he left the game to study with Robert Boswell and Antonya Nelson—and pursue a life in writing. His five books focus on the intersections of sport, social progress, politics, and race. Rus has remained connected to the game through his acclaimed Basketball in the Barrio summer program in El Paso, as well as serving as NMSU’s television “color analyst.” He was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to return to Ireland to work on his next book about refugees in Belfast, “Almost Like Belonging.” An accomplished fiddle player, he lives in Chicago, Belfast, and New Mexico.

Buy Big Time

Rus Bradburd's Website

At about 2:00, Rus gives background on his fiddle playing and his time as color commentator for New México State University

At about 3:40, Rus talks about Big Time as his first work of fiction, as well as its nice timing, and he details how he worked on the book for many years

At about 5:40, Rus outlines some of the book’s exposition and plot, and talks about the current Colorado Football connections

At about 6:40, Rus talks about Univ of Chicago’s 1939 dropping of football and other stimuli for the book’s genesis, including Rick Russo’s work, and Dave Meggyesy's book

At about 8:40, Rus talks about satire and fiction and ideas of how fiction often gets at truth so well

At about 10:00, Rus gives more background on committee workloads and how the proliferation of committees and on particular example worked their ways into his book

At about 12:25, Rus talks about normalization of budget imbalance in universities

At about 13:30, Pete and Rus discuss the book’s epigraph, and Ruis talks about how the book satirizes college athletics, while he’s “knee-deep” in sports still

At about 15:30, Pete details a compare and contrast lesson that he teaches

At about 17:00, Rus responds to Pete’s question about the book’s opening and main characters Mooney and Braverman, history professors, working concessions at football games

At about 18:40, Rus gives background on “pop poet” Layla, and the ways in which she and the two history professors work together; Rus connects today’s conversations around student protests and protests in the book

At about 20:30, Rus talks about the downfall of the Coors State English Department in the book

At about 22:00, Rus cites the Missouri Football protest in fodder for a similar situation in his book

At about 23:00, Rus speaks about rich owners often asking taxpayers to finance big building projects

At about 24:20, Pete asks Rus about any inspirations for Layla, and he expands upon how the character evolved in his writing

At about 27:50, Pete charts the roles and importance of some characters in the book

At about 28:35, Rus discusses the financial costs and gains of big sport universities, and argues that the sporting program is taking away from education and educators

At about 33:00, Rus talks about a flawed system that puts so much work and so little compensation for adjunct instructors and showcases much hypocrisy

At about 35:00, Pete points out links between Braverman and Mooney’s activism and civil rights movements, and Rus connects to the push and pull that governs his own thoughts with regards to activism

At about 38:00, Rus talks about how the book’s events are in many ways reminiscent of fractures on the political Left

At about 40:25, Pete and Rus talk about NlL and how it relates to topics covered n the book, and whether/how NIL affected Rus’ writing

At about 44:00, Rus cites Dagoberto Gilb as an example of a writer who is successful while not being preachy, and how through satire, one can be a “little more message-heavy”

At about 45:50, Rus responds to Pete’s questions about satire and hyperbole and highlights how his writing the book made him love his characters

At about 48:45, Pete asks Rus about doing dystopia in The Age of Trump, and Rus cites David Shields and a tantalizing book idea that is now obsolete

At about 51:10, Pete wonders about Rus’ thoughts on the frenzied rise of legalized sports gambling, and Rus talks about further normalization of formerly-”sacreligious” things like beer sales at college games

At about 53:20, Rus cites Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk as an influence on his book and talks about using a real beer company’s name

At about 54:45, Pete compliments Rus’ use of stream of consciousness

At about 56:30, Rus shares out information on readings and book events coming up, including one with Beto O’Rourke, and contact and book buying information

You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, Matt Bell, F. Douglas Brown, Jorge Lacera, Jean Guererro, Rachel Yoder, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writers who have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

Please tune in for Episode 263 with Fernanda Trías, award-winning author of three novels and the short story collection No soñarás flores; awarded the National Uruguayan Literary Prize, The Critics’ Choice Award Bartolomé Hidalgo, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz International Prize in Mexico for Pink Slime/Mugre Rosa.

The episode goes live on November 26.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Nov 12, 2024

Episode 261 with Greg Mania, Author of Born to Be Public, and Hilarious Chronicler of the Absurd, Eccentric, and Profound

Tuesday Nov 12, 2024

Notes and Links to Greg Mania’s Work

Greg Mania’s words have been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, HuffPost, Oprah Daily, PAPER, among other international online and print platforms. He is also a contributing editor to BOMB Magazine, he hosts The Rumpus’s #ShowUsYourDesk on Instagram Live, and co-hosts Empty Trash, a reading series in Los Angeles. His debut memoir, Born to Be Public, is out now from CLASH Books.

He lives in Los Angeles, where he spends his days writing and hanging out with his boyfriend, the poet and TV writer Tommy Pico, whose commitment to the bit rivals his own.

Buy Born to Be Public

Greg Mania’s Website

Lambda Literary Review of Born to Be Public

“How Born to Be Public Author Greg Mania Lived a Double Life Before Coming Out” for Oprah Daily

At about 2:10, Greg talks about growing up in Central New Jersey, and his cultural life and the ways in which New York City held a special magnetism for him

At about 5:35, Greg describes the different parts of New Jersey and its immortal malls

At about 6:45, Greg responds to Pete’s questions about growing up speaking Polish and whether his writing in English has parallels in Polish

At about 8:15, Greg explains how he’s a “word nerd” and how this and his family affects his joke creation

At about 9:40, Greg talks about how he and Ruth Madievsky vibe for me many reasons, including a shared affinity for dark humor

At about 12:30, Greg notes that Born to Be Public has been **translated into Polish**

At about 13:20, Greg gives background on Poland and its evolving conservatism and liberalism

At about 14:15, Greg shows his Beverly Cleary-related tattoo and shouts out his love of Garfield and other dark/weird humor in growing up; Phyllis Diller gets stanned

At about 16:30, n expanding upon his love for Pee Wee Herman, Greg talks about his love for and interest in persona

At about 17:40, Phyllis Diller gets stanned more as Greg notes an incredible sign from Phyllis/the universe

At about 19:25, Greg discusses the litany of publications with which he works, and being a “freelance” writer in a year of transformation

At about 21:20, Greg responds to Pete’s question about his writing routine

At about 24:50, Greg gives information on his upcoming novel project

At about 27:15, Greg answers Pete’s question about how taking his nonfiction to fiction is “freeing”

At about 30:10, Greg lists Ruth Madievsky, Samantha Irby, Emily Austin, Rufi Thorpe, Kristen Arnett, Chantal Johnson, Kimberly King Parsons as some of the writers who thrill and challenge her

At about 32:40, Greg responds to Pete’s asking about how one is funny on the page

At about 34:25, Greg makes a startling Friends’-related admission

At about 35:15, Pete and Greg discuss the interplay between the humor and heaviness in his book

At about 39:20, Sand art!

At about 40:30, Greg talks about advice from a writer about how he ended up writing a book that has resonated with so many

At about 41:30, Greg reflects on childhood fears and the ways in which he has worked through these fears and compulsions

At about 43:45, The two discuss fixations with death

At about 44:40, Greg gives background on his childhood fascination with chimneys and diesel trains, and his dad’s selflessness

At about 47:30, Greg talks about the ways in which his parents’ generosity and love was counterbalanced by homophobia and migraines and anxiety

At about 51:00, Greg details some harmful words from a childhood doctor

At about 53:15, Greg responds to Pete’s question about his mindset in retorting to bullies and he mentions the “power” that came with quips

At about 55:15, Pete connects Greg’s humor to a Tillie Olsen line and wonders about Greg’s feelings at the time

At about 57:45, Greg details how his friend Rachel brought him so much confidence and helped him build his humor

At about 1:00:00, Greg talks about the “no inhibitions” that govern his relationships with his boyfriend Tommy in the same way as with Rachel

At about 1:01:15, Greg charts how educating himself on his fears has been helpful, particularly with regards to “fight or flight”

At about 1:05:15, Pete notes a “LOL” moment that sums up a classic college trope

At about 1:07:30, Greg speaks to the idea of “identity as never neat”

At about 1:09:00, Greg talks about the links between his first friends in New York and Lady Gaga and the ways in which “Greg Mania” (MAYN-ee-uh) grew to fit him

At about 1:10:10, Greg discusses how his writing mentors in high school and college helped him on his way to professional writing

At about 1:13:20, Greg talks about the book as A memoir, and how it’s him “pars[ing] the different parts of [him]”

At about 1:15:50, Greg responds to Pete’s questions about his days at “Magic Mondays” and its connection to the worlds of publishing

At about 1:19:00, Greg talks about his “majestic” hair (Pete’s words) and the ways in which it was his calling card in his clubbing days

At about 1:20:40, Greg answers Pete’s questions about what comedy writing “satisfies” for him, and Greg expands on the “sacred[ness]” of joke writing

At about 1:23:00, Greg details the “reward” in writing jokes and talking humor with his boyfriend

At about 1:24:40, Greg talks about the difference between memoir/memoirs and how his book applies to the former

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 262 with Rus Bradburd, who teaches writing classes in New Mexico State University’s MFA program and coached basketball at UTEP and New Mexico State for fourteen seasons. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Colorado Review, Puerto del Sol, SLAM Magazine, Bounce, Los Angeles Times, and many others. Rus is a two-time guest spoke about 2018 nonfiction book, All the Dreams We've Dreamed: A Story of Hoops and Handguns on Chicago's West Side on Chills at Will Episode 15. November 19 is Pub Day for Big Time, his fourth book and second novel. The episode airs on Pub Day.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Nov 05, 2024

Episode 260 with Lauren Markham, Author of A Map of Future Ruins, and Sympathetic and Empathetic Chronicler of The Forgotten, The Neglected, and Those With Complex Stories Often Reduced to Tropes

Tuesday Nov 05, 2024

Notes and Links to Lauren Markham’s Work

Lauren Markham is a writer based in northern California. She is the author of the recent A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging (Riverhead, 2024) which The New Yorker listed as one of “The Best Books We’ve Read in 2024 So Far” and which Kirkus reviews called “a remarkable, unnerving, and cautionary portrait of a global immigration crisis.”

A fiction writer, essayist and journalist, her work most often concerns issues related to youth, migration, the environment and her home state of California. Markham’s first book, The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life (Crown, 2017) was the winner of the 2018 Ridenhour Book Prize, the Northern California Book Award, and a California Book Award Silver Prize. It was named a Barnes & Noble Discover Selection, a New York Times Book Critics' Top Book of 2017, and was shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the L.A. Times Book Award and longlisted for a Pen America Literary Award in Biography.

Markham has reported from the border regions of Greece and Mexico and Thailand and Texas; from arctic Norway; from gang-controlled regions of El Salvador; from depopulating towns in rural Sardinia and rural Guatemala, too; from home school havens in southern California; from imperiled forests in Oregon and Washington; from the offices of overwhelmed immigration attorneys in L.A. and Tijuana; from the upscale haunts of women scammed on the Upper East Side.

Her writing has appeared in outlets such as VQR (where she is a contributing editor), Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, The New York Review of Books, The New Republic, Guernica, Freeman's, Mother Jones, Orion, The Atlantic, Lit Hub, California Sunday, Zyzzyva, The Georgia Review, The Best American Travel Writing 2019, and on This American Life. She has been awarded fellowships from The Mesa Refuge, UC Berkeley, Middlebury College, the McGraw Center, the French American Foundation, the Society for Environmental Journalists, the Silvers Prize, the de Groot Foundation, and the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.

In addition to writing, Markham has spent fifteen years working at the intersection of education and immigration. She regularly teaches writing in various community writing centers as well as at the Ashland University MFA in Writing Program, the University of San Francisco and St. Mary’s MFA in Writing Program. Her third book, Immemorial, will be published by Transit Books in 2025.

Buy A Map of Future Ruins

Lauren's Website

Los Angeles Review of Books’ Review of A Map of Future Ruins

At about 4:00, Lauren makes the case that not all young reading has to be high-brow as she discusses formative works as a kid and adolescent, which included Nancy Drew and Milan Kundera

At about 6:50, Lauren responds to Pete’s question about how she thinks and writes in diverse genres, and how her reading of varied writers informs her own work

At about 10:40, Lauren shouts out Vauhini Vara, Hernan Diaz, Nathan Heller, Jia Tolentino, and other treasured contemporary writers

At about 12:45, Lauren talks about how writing informs her teaching, and vice versa

At about 15:25, Pete asks Lauren about seeds for A Map of Future Ruins and how her work with many undocumented and refugee students has affected her writing

At about 19:00, Lauren and Pete discuss ideas of belonging and exclusion and pride and heritage in connection to Lauren’s Greek heritage and reporting trips there

At about 23:10, Ideas of “insiders” and “outsiders” and the challenges of immigration paperwork are discussed

At about 26:05, Pete and Lauren reflect on a powerful quote from Warsan Shire regarding people being impelled to emigrate

At about 26:55, Lauren gives background on the conditions that made Moria on the Greek slang of Lesbos a “purgatory”

At about 31:20, Demetrios, a representative Greek from the book, and his views on immigration and “speak[ing] bird” is discussed

At about 36:05, Lauren expands upon how Greece as the “starting point of democracy” has been corrupted and co-opted and points to a stellar expose on truth from Kwame Anthony Appiah

At about 41:50, The two discuss the arbitrary nature of “The West” and Greece and its ideals and ideas of a “Western lineage

At about 43:55, Lauren expands upon the ideas of “proximity to Whiteness” with particular historical relevance for Greeks, Italians, and Southern Europeans

At about 44:55, Pete and Lauren reference the horrific images of the Syrian refugee whose death galvanized support, as well as Ali Sayed’s story, traced in her book

At about 46:40, Lauren explains terminology and methods of doing business by Turkish and other smugglers

At about 48:10, Turkish and Greek relations and how they affected the lack of patrols is highlighted

At about 49:20, “The Moria Six” and Ali’s story and trials are discussed in relation to the fire referenced at the beginning of the book

At about 52:00, The impositions of maps and Empire are reflected upon

At about 53:05, “Whiteness” and its imposition on “classical form” and racist science are explored, as written about in the book

At about 54:55, The two trace the initial and later welcome for refugees to Greek islands and ideas of the original meaning of “asylum”; Lauren also highlights many incredible people helping refugees to this day, as well as ideas of “invaders” and scapegoats

At about 58:40, Discussion of Greek austerity and true issues of difficulty for are referenced

At about 59:50, The two discuss Lauren’s section in the book regarding Darien Gap and connections to Lauren’s family’s own emigration/immigration story

At about 1:02:00, The two highlight ideas of community among refugees, and Pete asks Lauren about pessimism and optimism and the book’s title

At about 1:03:25, Ali’s unfinished story is referenced

At about 1:04:05-Laser Round Questions! East Bay Booksellers, Point Reyes Books and Green Apple are shouted out as good places to buy her books

At about 1:05:05, Immemorial, Lauren’s 2025 release, is described

What a pleasure it has been to speak with Lauren. Continued good luck to her with her future writing and important work.

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Chills at Will Podcast.

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, F. Douglas Brown, Matt Bell, Rachel Yoder, Jorge Lacera, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 261 with Greg Mania, who is a writer, comedian, and award-winning screenwriter. He’s also author of the debut memoir, Born to Be Public, which was an NPR Best Book of 2020 and an O, Oprah Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2020. Greg’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Oprah Daily, PAPER, among other international online and print platforms.

This episode will air on November 12.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Episode 259 with Jessica Whipple, Author of Enough Is... and I Think I Think a Lot, and Skilled Craftswoman of Nuanced, Sympathetic Works that Bring Security and Inspiration for Kids and Adults Alike

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Notes and Links to Jessica Whipple’s Work

Jessica Whipple writes for adults and children from her home in Eastern PA. Her poetry has been published recently in Funicular, ***Door Is a Jar, and Green Ink Poetry, and online at Whale Road Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and Pine Hills Review*. Her poem "Broken Strings" has been nominated for a 2023 Pushcart Prize in poetry.**

She has published two children's picture books in 2023: Enough Is… (Tilbury House, illustrated by Nicole Wong) and I Think I Think a Lot (Free Spirit Publishing, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon).

To read more of Jessica’s work or to learn about her books, including praise and reviews, peruse her website or follow her on Twitter/X/Instagram @JessicaWhippl17.

Buy I Think I Think a Lot

Interview with WESA/NPR, Regarding I Think I Think a Lot

Jessica Whipple's Website

At about 2:20, Jessica gives background information on places to buy her books

At about 4:40, Jessica speaks to how her reading life is and was

At about 7:00, Jessca traces where her writing life kicked in and how her writing life was “reinvigorated”

At about 10:00, Julie Fogliano and other inspiring and beloved children’s authors are given kudos

At about 12:20, Jessica reads “This is What I’m Thinking at the Container Store”

At about 15:50, Jessica expands on the universality and specificity of her poem, talking about OCD as a “spectrum”

At about 19:00, The two reflect on some stellar and vivid lines from the poem

At about 21:00, Jessica breaks down the different mechanisms of OCD and focuses on the compulsions and obsessions in their mental and outward forms

At about 23:35, Jessica introduces and reads her poem, “ Sometimes I Google You”

At about 26:25, Jessica explains how she is “speaking to the memory” depicted in the poem

At about 29:30, Jessica provides a nice way to think of haiku, thanks to Tim Green

At about 32:45, Pete highlights the beautiful security given in Jessica’s work and other standout work

At about 33:40, Pete asks about the “Enough” from the title of Enough Is… and Jessica expands upon the “sense of importance” given to the word

At about 35:20, Jessica responds to Pete’s questions about using symbolism and analogy in books for kids

At about 37:00, Pete wonders about seeds for the book, I Think I Think a Lot

At about 40:15, Pete likens the apologies in the book to a Seinfeld episode

At about 41:20, Jessica talks about how the illustrator works off her writing

At about 42:45, Pete highlights the ways in which Jessica use nuance and asks Jessica about writing to engender empathy in kids

At about 44:40, Jessica reads and discusses “To My Husband Now a Father”

At about 48:20, Pete asks Jessica about writing about personal things and catharsis

At about 50:20, Lauren details exciting upcoming projects

I am very excited about having one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Deesha Philyaw, Luis Alberto Urrea, Chris Stuck, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 260 with Lauren Markham, whose writing regularly appears in outlets like Harper's, Lithub, The New York Times Magazine and VQR. She is the author of The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life, the winner of the 2018 Ridenhour Book Prize and a CA Book Award Silver Prize. Her most recent book, A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging, is out in 2024 to acclaim.

The episode airs on November 5.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Oct 22, 2024

Episode 258 with Porochista Khakpour, Author of Tehrangeles, Savvy and Skilled Chronicler of the Essence of Modern Life, and Writer of Varied, Hilarious, and Incisive Works

Tuesday Oct 22, 2024

Show Notes and Links to Porochista Khanpour's Work

For Episode 258, Pete welcomes Porochista Khakpour, and the two discuss, among other topics, her harrowing departure from Iran to the US at a young age, her voracious reading and writing and storytelling, amazing life experiences that have fed her writing, her love of contemporary stan culture and KPop, how her latest book’s release is different, seeds for Tehrangeles, modern wellness and conspiracy theory cultures, her experiences with the real Tehrangeles, the role of the outsider as a writer, and so much about themes and topics related to her novel, like celebrity worship, assimilation, cancel culture, and racism.

Porochista Khakpour was born in Tehran and raised in the greater Los Angeles area. She is the critically acclaimed author of two previous novels, Sons and Other Flammable Objects and The Last Illusion; a memoir, Sick; and a collection of essays, Brown Album. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bookforum, Elle, and many other publications. Her latest book is Tehrangeles. She lives in New York City.

Buy Tehrangeles

Porochista’s Official Website

Porochista’s Wikipedia Page

“Writing Iranian America…”-2020 Interview from Columbia Journal

At about 1:45: Pete gets the wrong vegetable in remembering his first exposure to Porochista’s excellent work

At about 2:45, Porochista talks about the year in publishing and the ways in which this year’s tragedies have been in juxtaposition to careful and affectionate feedback for her novel

At about 7:30, Porochista and Pete discuss some politicians’ cowardice and Porochsta’s book as a “weird distraction”

At about 10:20, Pete asks Porochista about writing satire in an increasingly off-its-hinges world

At about 13:20, Porochista talks about the 1%, richest of the richest, and how “this sort of madness of wealthy people during the beginning of the pandemic”

At about 15:10, Porochsta gives background on the acquisition of her novel

At about 17:25, The two highlight Danzy Senna’s great work

At about 18:20, Porochista cites examples of “dark humor” that at times run through Persian cultures

At about 20:10, Porochista reflects on the idea of “perpetual outsiders” and the effect on writing

At about 21:40, Porochista details her family’s fleeing Iran and the traumas and memories that came with her odyssey to arriving in the US

At about 24:30, Porochista traces the way that Iran was often viewed by Americans at the time in which her family arrived in the US

At about 25:15, Porochista responds to Pete’s questions about her early reading and writing and language life, both in English and Persian

At about 31:45,

At about 32:50, Porochista talks about she’s been described as a “maximalist” and the connection to Persian as her first language

At about 34:35, Porochista talks about representation in the texts she read growing up and her early love of particular works that allowed her to learn about the Western canon in order to enjoy it and resist it

At about 37:30, Porochista charts her reading journey from Faulkner to Morrison to Sartre to the Beat Poets and describes her self-designed silent book reading “retreat”

At about 40:20, Porochista describes her reading and writing as responses to her life experiences and her identity revolving around writing

At about 41:35, Porochista describes transformative and formative texts and mentors and her time at Sarah Lawrence College and Oxford

At about 43:50, Porochista talks about the ways in which her reading was affected by how women writers are often limited, and how this connects to her seeking out adventure and life experience in living as a writer, including her going to William Faulkner Country

At about 49:45, The two make appreciations of James Joyce’s work

At about 50:55, Porochista makes a case for contemporary writing as comprising a “golden era”

At about 52:00, Pete wonders if and how Porochsta has been influenced by Bret Easton Ellis and David Foster Wallace

At about 54:45, Porochista talks about ways in which Less than Zero and American Psycho and Donna Tartt’s work have affected the sensibility of Tehrangeles and especially its ending

At about 59:15, Porochista talks about “dream” casting in case the novel becomes a movie, including Tara Yummy

At about 1:01:00, Porochista talks about the “twisted logic” found on many of the chat rooms/forums she spent time in for book research

At about 1:04:15, Porochista talks about how Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Alcott’s experience informed the writing of Tehrangeles

At about 1:07:55, The two discuss how Shahs of Sunset affected the novel

At about 1:10:00, Porochista explains her rationale in making the book’s reality show producers a collective

At about 1:10:45, Porochista responds to Pete’s question about the book’s epitaphs

At about 1:13:55, Porochista talks about the book’s untranslated Persian section and “progress” in people’s understanding

At about 1:15:20, Pete cites and quotes the book’s opening litany and the exposition of Book I

At about 1:16:20, Porochista describes a raucous scene where Roxana, a main character, goes through a “zodiac reassignment”

At about 1:17:50, Porochista digs into Roxana’s “Secret”

At about 1:19:10, The two lament Kanye West’s horrible recent behavior and other misogynists and abusers, in connection with the setting of the book

At about 1:22:30, The two discuss the world of influencers and their effect on younger generations in line with the characters of the book

At about 1:24:20, Pete recounts the Milani family members and their views of the

At about 1:26:00, Porochista recounts inspiration for Violet’s sweets diet from an interview with Momofuku’s Christina Tosi and Porochista’s time at Sarah Lawrence

At about 1:28:00, The two discuss Violet’s experience with a racist and demeaning model shoot that plays on her Iranian heritage

At about 1:29:30, Porochista reflects on Tehrangeles culture and its connection to religion

At about 1:30:35, Porochista discusses KPop and “stan culture” and how Mina “found her voice” through these online forums

At about 1:34:20, Porochista talks about purposely focusing on realistic and empathetic portrayals of gender identity

At about 1:38:30, The two discuss Hailey as representative of the intersections between Covid conspiracy theories and racism and “hidden” CA racism and wellness culture

At about 1:40:00, Porochista talks about her own experiences with the “dark wu wu” of the wellness cultures during her own fragile

At about 1:44:00, The two discuss Ali (Al) and his leaving Iran behind and how he seeks Americanization and how he makes his fortune

At about 1:46:15, Porochista likens events of the book, “The World of Al” to the DJ Khaled song

At about 1:48:05, The two discuss Roxana’s desire to have a blowout early Covid-era party and how the physical “wings” of the house connect to the sisters’ different growing pains and goals and ethics

At about 1:50:40, The two riff on some beautifully absurd scenes in the book, including a pet psychic’s appearance

At about 1:51:50, Porochista gives background on deciding to do untranslated Persian in the book and about Homa and the ways she doesn't want to be part of Tehrangeles; also Editor Maria Goldberg Love

At about 1:55:10, Pete asks about the rationale and background for the book’s ending using stream of consciousness

At about 1:57:15, Porochista shouts out Golden Hour Books and City of Asylum Books, and other places to buy her book, including Shawnee, Kansas’ Seven Stories, run by 17 yr old Halley Vincent

At about 1:59:45, Porochista shouts out the stellar Deep Vellum and Verso and writers like

At about 2:01:05, Porochista talks about exciting upcoming projects

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 259 with Jessica Whipple. Jessica writes for adults and children, and her poetry has been published recently in Funicular, Door Is a Jar, and many more. She has published two children's picture books in 2023: Enough Is… and I Think I Think a Lot.

The episode will air on October 29.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Friday Oct 18, 2024

Episode 257 with Mirin Fader, Author of Dream, and Keen and Empathetic Observer and Chronicler of Stories within Stories and Stellar Portraits of Athletes that Show Their Completeness

Friday Oct 18, 2024

Notes and Links to Mirin Fader’s Work

For Episode 257, Pete welcomes Mirin Fader for her second Chills at Will visit, and the two discuss, among other topics, her love of contemporary fiction, how her second book’s release is different than that of her first, seeds for her latest book-Dream, about the great Hakeem Olajuwon-coming from her previous blockbuster about Giannis Antetokounmpo, her finding stories within stories while researching the book, and the wonders and legends of Hakeem Olajuwon, from his start in handball and soccer to the ignorant and racist ways he was often viewed, to the role that discipline, creativity, and his faith play in his daily life.

Mirin Fader is a senior staff writer for The Ringer. Her first book, Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion, was a New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller. She has profiled some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan, and LaMelo Ball, telling the backstories that have shaped some of our most complex, most dominant, heroes. Fader wrote for Bleacher Report from 2017 to 2020 and the Orange County Register from 2013 to 2017. Her work has been featured in the “Best American Sports Writing” series and honored by the Pro Basketball Writers Association, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Los Angeles Press Club.

Buy Dream

Mirin Fader's Website

See Mirin on Tour!

At about 2:50, Mirin discusses her love of fiction and beloved contemporary texts, including Tommy Orange’s latest, and Sudanese writer, Rania Mamoun’s latest

At about 4:40, Mirin responds to Pete’s question about any sort of competitiveness within writers in Mirin’s cohort, and Pete and Mirin stan Wright Thompson

At about 6:30, Pete highlights Demar Derozan’s recent book and Mirin’s profile of him for The Ringer

At about 9:45, Mirin gives background on her profile of Bronny James and what “lane” she focused on for the piece

At about 12:30, Some all-time NBA rankings!

At about 14:45, Pete cites the book about Giannis and its lasting greatness

At about 15:05, Pete asks Mirin about the run-up to her second book and feedback

At about 16:10, Mirin mentions the nostalgia associated with Hakeem Olajuwon

At about 17:30, Mirin talks about the “unheralded” nature of Hakeem, as well as the emergence of international basketball players, particularly with African players, for which he was a “prequel”

At about 19:25, Mirin gives background on Ben Okri’s quote for her epigraph and its connection to Hakeem and devotion and creativity

At about 20:10, The two discuss the book’s Prologue and LeBron James famous trip to train with Hakeem in 2011

At about 22:40, Henri de Ybarrondo and his importance to Hakeem and his spiritual resurgence is referenced

At about 24:00, Mirin discusses her wonderful experiences in going to Hakeem’s mosque in Houston

At about 25:00, Pete asks Mirin to expand on Hakeem as a “hidden one,” and connections to a hadith quoted from the Koran

At about 26:30, The two discuss the book’s beginning, and Mirin talks about the bustling city of Lagos, Hakeem’s childhood (and later American media racism in describing his youth), and how his father taught him to be proud of his size

At about 29:10, Mirin talks about Hakeem's early athletic feats outside of basketball, and how he was “recruited” to finally give in and play basketball

At about 31:20, Pete and Mirin reflect on the sad fact that so many interviewees for the book have died recently and how this affects her urgency to get stories on paper

At about 32:35, Mirin responds to Pete’s wondering about how Hakeem’s 1980 Nigerian National Team appearance affected his growth

At about 34:10, The “Dream Shake” and Yomi Sangodeyi’s greatness and tutoring are explored

At about 35:00, Christopher Pond and the supposed origin story of Hakeem’s Univ. of Houston landing, as well as problematic parts of the story are probed

At about 38:50, Mirin talks about Hakeem’s time in Houston and the city’s growing Nigerian population

At about 40:10, Mirin expands upon the ignorant and racist ways in which Hakeem was written about, especially in his earlier years, and she shares the story of how him “changing his name”
Was emblematic of his humble nature

At about 42:55, Mirin highlights how Hakeem was never seen as a draft mistake, even though he was drafted over Michael Jordan, and Pete cites Frank Guidry’s book on Houston and how the Forde Center helped Hakeem improve greatly as a Rocket

At about 44:15, Pete cites Hakeem’s moving letter referenced in the book, and how Mirin charts his rediscovering his faith through some amazing and makes it clear that he never “converted” to Islam

At about 46:45, The two reflect on and express the amazement and respect for Hakeem’s Ramadan fasting during his playing days

At about 47:45, Pete and Mirin stan Hakeem’s unforgettable series against David Robinson

At about 48:45, Mirin talks about how Hakeem’s faith calls for him to not display iconography and show humility and how the book’s cover satisfied the requirements of being respectful

At about 50:45, Mirin shouts out Brazos Bookstore and Skylight Books as good places to buy her book, and shouts out her first tour

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 258 with Porochista Khakpour, the critically acclaimed author of two previous novels, Sons and Other Flammable Objects and The Last Illusion; a memoir, Sick; and a collection of essays, Brown Album. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bookforum, Elle, and many other publications. Her latest book, a chaotic and satirical stellar work, is Tehrangeles.

This episode will air on October 22.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Wednesday Oct 09, 2024

Episode 256 with Andrew Maraniss, Author of Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke, Strong Inside, Beyond the Game Series, and Other Empathetic, Inspiring, and Enlightening Works

Wednesday Oct 09, 2024

Notes and Links to Andrew Maraniss’ Work

For Episode 256, Pete welcomes Andrew Maraniss, and the two discuss, among other topics, carefree days of baseball card trading, formative writers and social justice activists, seeds for his latest series on inspiring contemporary athletes and their fights for justice, “writing” versus “sportswriting,” Glenn Burke and his singular fight for equality, how Andrew views writing about social issues in ways that young people can understand, and the restorative and challenging power that books hold.

Andrew Maraniss is the New York Times-bestselling author of narrative nonfiction; his first book, Strong Inside, about Perry Wallace, the first African-American basketball player in the SEC, won the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award. He has recently launched a series of early chapter books for young readers, BEYOND THE GAME: Athletes Change the World, which highlights athletes who have done meaningful work outside of sports to help other people.

Buy Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke

Andrew Maraniss’ Website

Buy Andrew’s Books

At about 1:30, Andrew talks about his family legacy of writing, and his early writing and reading

At about 4:40, Andrew talks about his baseball love and love of other sports

At about 5:50, the two discuss spreading baseball love in their families

At about 7:15, Andrew responds to Pete’s questions about formative sportswriters and how Andrew sees “sportswriting” versus “writing”

At about 10:25, Pete and Andrew lament missed opportunities with valuable sports memorabilia

At about 13:10, The two begin to discuss Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke and highlight Dusty Baker’s key role

At about 14:10, Pete highlights the bold and moving way that Andrew starts th book in 1977, with Glenn struggling on the streets of San Francisco’s Tenderloin

At about 18:30, Pete asks Andrew about the “double life” he writes about with regard to Glenn’s minor league and major league careers

At about 21:50, Andrew recounts the story of the purported first high-five and Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke’s roles

At about 25:50, the two discuss Al Campanis’ offer to Glenn and Glenn’s last days as a Dodger

At about 30:50, Andrew discusses the homophobic reactions that led to the shunning by the A’s of Glenn

At about 32:45, Pete compares Glenn’s behaviors to that of a later career Jackie Robinson and Andrew talks about how Glenn had a tenuous amount of agency

At about 34:00, Andrew details Glenn’s time with Bay Area softball, and up and downs in his life, and how life in the Castro District in SF turned horrendous

At about 36:00, Andrew cites Dusty Baker as a great interview and a great guy

At about 37:05, Andrew responds to Pete’s questions about moments of joy in Glenn’s painful last years and reflects on Glenn Burke’s legacy

At about 38:50, Andrew talks about Tommy Lasorda, Jr., and connections to Glenn’s story; Pete and Andrew both cite an engrossing article by Peter Richmond

At about 41:10, Pete is highly complimentary of Andrew’s work and its progressive nature and

At about 42:00, Pete asks Andrew about seeds for his Athletes Change the World series, and Andrew cites book bans and hopes for his Glenn Burke book to be more widely-read; Andrew also details his books and connections to social issues

At about 45:20, Andrew riffs on his books on LeBron James and Maya Moore and an upcoming book on Pat Tillman

At about 47:00, Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Whetstone is discussed, in connection with murdered indigenous women and Andrew’s book about her

At about 48:10, Pete highlights a philosophy that Andrew uses in his books and his calls to action

At about 49:15-LeBron love! Andrew details what he learned about LBJ through his book

At about 52:40, Pete compliments the “surrounding infrastructure” of Andrew’s work and asks him about difficulty in writing fewer words and for children with serious topics

At about 56:30, Andrew details an imminent YA/adult book on the first Special Olympics

At about 58:30, Andrew shouts out contact info, places to buy his books, and social media info

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 257 with Mirin Fader, a senior staff writer for The Ringer. I was honored to talk to her for Episode 76, about her first book, Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion, which was a New York Times Bestseller. Her newest book Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon is out on this day, October 15, when the episode drops.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Monday Sep 30, 2024

Episode 255 with Chris Knapp, Author of States of Emergency and Keen and Darkly Humorous Chronicler of Contemporary Chaos

Monday Sep 30, 2024

Notes and Links to Chris Knapp’s Work

For Episode 255, Pete welcomes Chris Knapp, and the two discuss, among other topics, a fascination with Elena Ferrante, James Joyce, and other dynamic writers, the interplay between journalism and fiction writing, seeds for his debut novel, the significance of its title, the drawbacks and benefits of writing about such recent times, and salient themes and issues in his novel like colonialism, marital alienation and connection, ennui, and the creep of dystopian mores.

Christopher Knapp’s work has appeared in print in the Paris Review and the New England Review, and online at Granta and n+1, among others. He’s been a work-study scholar at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Virginia. His novel, States of Emergency, was published on September 3 by Unnamed Press. He lives in Paris with my wife, and teaches in the journalism program at the Sorbonne.

Buy States of Emergency

Chris Knapp's Website

At about 2:50, Chris talks about what it’s been like in the run-up to publication

At about 4:00, Chris describes his early literary life and battles with spoilers

At about 7:10, Pete and Chris discuss and cite the greatness of Faulkner and Joyce’s work

At about 9:30, Pete highlights a wonderfully Joycean sentence (one of many) from Chris’ novel

At about 10:25, Chris shouts out inspiring and thrilling writers, including Rachel Cusk, Don DeLillo, and Sebald, and Elena Ferrante

At about 14:10, The two discuss Paris and Naples and prices and experiences

At about 16:30, Chris responds to Pete’s questions about the interplay between his journalistic background and his fiction writing

At about 19:45, Pete and Chris reflect on the interesting ways in which the book’s narrator functions in the book and connects to

At about 21:15, Chris speaks about seeds for his novel

At about 22:20, The two discuss Chris deciding to start the book with a heat wave and political and cultural

At about 24;45, Chris talks about the fertility procedures that run throughout much of the book and the way waiting relates

At about 27:00, Chris delineates between hope and optimism and how these two qualities characterize the narrator and his wife Ella

At about 29:20, The two discuss ideas of sympathy and empathy and comfort and shared pain

At about 31:50, Chris responds to Pete’s questions about the narrator’s writing and charting his and Ella’s experiences

At about 32:45, Chris reflects on the narrator’s writing and the way that Ella sees him and his writing; he references Raven Leilani and writing on grief

At about 34:45, The two discuss the ways in which French colonialism and racism is seen (or not) in the book and in the world

At about 36:40, Pete highlights the dark humor of the book, and Chris expands on some of the humor and how it flows for him

At about 39:35, The two discuss the “carnality” of a climatic scene in Ella and the narrator’s relationship

At about 42:20, Chris charts the importance of a getaway for Ella in Skopje

At about 44:20, Pete cites a period of separation between the two main characters and asks Chris about the significance of the book’s title

At about 49:00, Chris responds to Pete’s questions about the drawbacks and benefits and vagaries of perspective in the novel

At about 55:25, Chris reflects on narrative and its connections to history and to the novel

At about 57:00, Pete compliments two anecdotes/scenes from the book, compares Ella’s story of the French and Algerians to Wolff’s “In the Garden of the North American Martyrs,” and Chris expands on the views of the narrator’s family

At about 1:02:50, Chris gives contact information, book purchasing info, and social media info

At about 1:04:20, Chris talks about what he’s working on and wants to write about in the future

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 256 with Andrew Maraniss, a New York Times-bestselling author of narrative nonfiction. His first book, Strong Inside, about Perry Wallace, the first African-American basketball player in the SEC, won the 2015 Lillian Smith Book Award. Andrew recently launched a series of early chapter books for young readers, BEYOND THE GAME: Athletes Change the World, which highlights athletes who have done meaningful work outside of sports to help other people.

The episode will air on October 1.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Monday Sep 23, 2024

Episode 254 with Jami Attenberg, Author of A Reason to See You Again, and Skilled Craftswoman of Eccentric and Sympathetic Characters and Unique Family Bonds

Monday Sep 23, 2024

Notes and Links to Jami Attenberg’s Work

For Episode 254, Pete welcomes Jami Attenberg, and the two discuss, among other topics, seeds for her newest novel, the significance of its title, research and its connection to continuity, and salient themes and issues in her novel like grief and intergenerational traumas, the rapid development of digital technology and its ever-changing effects on society, conventional and unconventional family bonds, and guilt.

Jami Attenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up and a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. She is also the creator of the annual online group writing accountability project #1000wordsofsummer, which inspired the recently published USA Today bestseller 1000 Words:A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. Jami has also written for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, and others. Her work has been published in sixteen languages.

Her debut collection of stories, Instant Love, was published in 2006, followed by the novels The Kept Man and The Melting Season. Her fourth book, The Middlesteins, was published in October 2012. It appeared on The New York Times bestseller list, and was published in ten countries in 2013. It was also a finalist for both the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction and the St. Francis College Literary Prize. Her fifth book, Saint Mazie, was described by The New York Times Book Review as, “full of love and drink and dirty sex and nobility.” Her sixth book, All Grown Up, was a national bestseller, appearing on numerous year-end lists. Her most recent novel, All This Could Be Yours, for which Kirkus dubbed her, “poet laureate of difficult families,” also appeared on a number of year-end lists. In 2022 she published a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home, which USA Today called, “a fierce memoir of personal transformation.”

In January 2024 she published the creativity book, 1000 Words:A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round which was praised on The Today Show, NPR, and elsewhere. In September 2024 she will also publish a new novel, A Reason to See You Again.

She lives in New Orleans, LA.

Buy A Reason to See You Again

New York Times Review of A Reason to See You Again

Excerpt of A Reason to See You Again from People Magazine

Jami Attenberg Website

At about 3:20: Jami describes her mindset as her 10th book is set to be published within the week

At about 4:40, Jami details her exciting book tour, including a cool stop in Ireland for a book festival

At about 8:00, Jami describes which books of her own and of others are “in conversation” with her latest

At about 11:10, Pete and Jami share a few interesting and complimentary and funny reviews

At about 12:10, Jami responds to Pete’s wondering about seeds for the book

At about 13:40, Pete cites the book’s first scene and its focus on a pre-Internet world; Jami expands upon her mindset in showing the changes in technology in the book’s 46 year-arc

At about 16:00, Jami remarks on the ways in which she wanted to have work and technology as background and not at the forefront, and how it is and isn’t a “work novel”

At about 17:30, The two laugh over a labeling of the book as “historical fiction”

At about 18:10, Pete highlights Jami’s trendsetting abilities involving “demure”

At about 19:15, Pete notes the interesting ways in which Jami structures her dialogue

At about 20:45, Jami responds to Pete’s questions about how she maintained continuity in writing the book chronologically or not

At about 23:25, Pete asks Jami about the background of the evocative first line of the novel

At about 25:55, The two discuss Rudy, the “hero” of the members of the Cohen family, and the ways in which Jami sees him

At about 28:15, Jami discusses Frieda and what she may have been missing in her life

At about 30:00, Jami reflects on the balance and relationship between Shelley and Nancy, the sisters

At about 33:30, Jami responds to Pete’s questions about familial connections over generations

At about 36:00, Frieda and her resignation towards her daughters and Robby and Nancy’s relationship is discussed

At about 39:10, Generational traumas and guilt are discussed

At about 42:40, Jami shouts out helpful feedback from helpful writer friends in expanding parts of the novel

At about 43:35, Pete and Jami reflect on two interesting pairs and family dynamics

At about 47:25, Jami details how her current novel title happened, and the importance of this title

At about 49:25, Jami shouts out some favorite bookstores to buy her novel

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 255 with Chris Knapp, whose work has appeared in print in the Paris Review and the New England Review, among other publications. His novel, States of Emergency, from Unnamed Press, has Sept 17 as its Pub Day and has been widely-acclaimed, including by the masterful Brandon Taylor.

The episode will air on September 27.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Sep 17, 2024

Episode 253 with Akshaj Mehta, Author of Five Books, Including The Butterfly Effect, Intrepid and Curious Journalist, and Advocate for Reading and Writing Diverse Stories

Tuesday Sep 17, 2024

Notes and Links to Akshaj Mehta’s Work

For Episode 253, Pete welcomes Akshaj Mehta, and the two discuss, among other topics, his early experiences with bilingualism, formative and transformative writers and writing, beautiful trips with his mother to the library, his interest in representation of multidimensional and diverse characters and stories, a paradigm shift in reading Steph Cha, his evolving writing and salient themes and issues in his work like multiculturalism, subtlety, and unbiased writing.

Akshaj Mehta, who has been writing since he was four years old, is currently studying political science at UCLA as a second year student. Akshaj is an author with five published books, the most recent titled The Butterfly Effect, which was created in collaboration with the non-profit KidsFirst Roseville. He has also written for the N Magazine and Sacramento School Beat.

Buy The Butterfly Effect

Akshaj’s 2019 Article for The Sacramento Bee: “The ‘transforming’ power of a name: Learning to embrace the unique name I was given

Akshaj’s Story, “The Tragedy of Antonio Solaris”

At about 1:40: Akshaj talks about college life as an incoming sophomore

At about 2:20, Akshaj

At about 4:10, Akshaj talks about sparks for his love of reading-shout out to mothers who bring kids to libraries

At about 6:20, Akshaj expands on the plot of his first novel, Super Mouse

At about 7:10, Akshaj responds to Pete’s questions about an important writing assignment about the power of his name

At about 9:20, Akshaj reads the opening of the article mentioned above

At about 10:25, Akshaj responds to Pete asking about the experience of writing about his name and if the writing of it was “cathartic”

At about 11:35, Akshaj reflects on how he looks back at the topics of the article and how he sees his experiences now

At about 13:10, Akshaj replies to Pete’s question about books that have inspired and challenged him-he shouts out Steph Cha’s Your House Will Pay

At about 14:20, Pete follows up on how Akshaj might see Cha’s book differently after a few years and spending time in LA; Akshaj also talks about how an assignment in English class based on the novel brought him back into fiction

At about 18:00, Pete and Akshaj read from and discuss Akshaj’s story written in English class, “The Tragedy of Antonio Solaris”

At about 19:00, Akshaj talks about the variety of articles he has written for UCLA publications

At about 20:25, Akshaj’s view of journalism and heavy topics and philosophies are discussed

At about 24:00, Akshaj shares an interesting idea about mitigating bias in journalistic work

At about 24:40, Akshaj’s talks about his school senior project and connections to ideas of representation and his book for children, The Butterfly Effect

At about 26:35, Akshaj’s pinpoints how he and illustrator Alexa Bandala approached the art for his children’s book

At about 30:00, Akshaj’s reflects on lessons learned from reading stories with diverse representation to young kids

At about 32:40, Akshaj shares his experience in mock trial and how having to be persuasive has informed and changed his writing

At about 36:10, Pete wonders if/how Akshaj’s reading is different now that he is a published author, and Akshaj’s expands on how his writing has evolved

At about 39:15, Akshaj talks about his initial reading and later views of Krakauer’s Into the Wild

At about 41:00, Akshaj talks about exciting future projects

At about

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 254 with Jami Attenberg, the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including The Middlesteins, All Grown Up and a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. Her work has been published in sixteen languages; her novel, A Reason to See You Again is set to be published September 24, which is when her episode will also drop.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Sep 10, 2024

Episode 252 with Byron Graves: Author of Rez Ball and Master of the Hyperspecific and Universal Through Synpathetic and Dynamic Characters

Tuesday Sep 10, 2024

Notes and Links to Byron Graves’ Work

For Episode 252, Pete welcomes Byron Graves, and the two discuss, among other topics, his early experiences with Ojibwe and English and bilingualism, formative and transformative writers and writing (X-Men!), both past and present, representation of multidimensional indigenous characters, Byron’s basketball career and its influence on his writing and world view, and salient themes and issues in his work like grief and traumas, personal and collective triumphs, family bonds, community, inevitable change, and biculturalism.

Byron Graves is Ojibwe and was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where he played high school basketball. When he isn't writing, he can be found playing retro video games, spending time with his family, or cheering on his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves. Rez Ball is his debut novel.

Buy Rez Ball

1999 Article with Journalist Covering Byron’s High School Basketball Season

Review by Amanda MacGregor for Teen Librarian Toolbox

Byron's Website with Harper Collins

At about 1:25, Byron lays out his quandary regarding two NBA teams

At about 2:55, Byron talks about his language great grandparents and the fluency of family members in the Ojibwe language, and the ways in which language preservation has been done in his family and on his reservation

At about 5:15, Byron characterizes the Ojibwe language and shares an evocative favorite phrase

At about 6:20, Byron describes his childhood loves of comic books (particularly X-Men), video games, and more

At about 9:15, Byron expands on writers and writing that ignited his love for reading, including Lord Byron and a special family memento involving Lord Byron

At about 12:00, Byron talks about how representation has evolved and changed, particularly with regards to indigenous writers-a “beautiful renaissance”

At about 15:05, Byron responds to Pete’s questions about usage of different terminologies describing “indigenous” peoples

At about 17:05, Byron talks about the 1992 US Basketball “Dream Team” and the team sparking his interest in basketball

At about 20:00, Byron describes his game with a personal “scouting report”

At about 21:55, Byron talks about how lessons learned on the basketball have informed so much of his later life

At about 23:15, Byron talks how Frank Clancy’ 1999 news stories affected Byron’s own desire to write a book

At about 29:30, a high-tension basketball game that begins the book is discussed, as well as the staggering loss of narrator’s brother, Jaxon

At about 31:00, Byron discusses his rationale in including deep loss in the book, involving Tre’s brother Jaxon

At about 34:05, The two fanboy over “Batman: The Animated Series”

At about 34:30, Byron expands upon the “beautiful chaos” of “rez ball”

At about 38:15, Pete gives some background on main characters in the book, as well as the documentation of Tre’s season

At about 39:40, Byron traces the idea of the basketball player as celebrity, and the ways this has changed since he was playing high school basketball in the late 90s

At about 42:20, the ways in which Tre feels pressure/pride in representing his brother’s legacy are explored

At about 43:10, Khiana and Tre’s friendship as a way of allowing Tre to be himself is included

At about 45:20, the ways in which Tre’s parents and Tre’s teammates treat him after Jaxon’s death, and how peer pressure comes into play for Tre going to parties and considering drinking are discussed

At about 48:10, Pete and Byron recount some of the social and basketball-related growing pains that come in to play as Jaxon starts excelling on the basketball court, and sees his time consumed by basketball

At about 51:50, Byron describes the “amalgamations” that inform the way he wrote conflicts between small town and city basketball teams, and about racism and ugly histories

At about 55:00, Pete compliments a “heavy” and “profound scene” involving police misconduct and racism

At about 55:40, Byron responds to Pete’s question about what drew Slam Magazine to interview and follow around Tre and his team

At about 57:55, Pete “flags” (hehe) Cooper Flagg and Chet Holmgren as archetypes in the book

At about 58:30, Byron reflects on a wistful statement made by Tre’s teammate as Pete inquires about sympathies felt toward a character

At about 1:02:55, Byron talks about exciting future projects

At about 1:04:10, Byron gives out contact and social media info

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 253 with Akshaj Mehta, who has been writing since he was 4 years old. He is a former student of mine, and he is currently studying political science at UCLA as a second year student. Akshaj is an author with five published books, the most recent titled The Butterfly Effect, which was created in collaboration with the non-profit KidsFirst Roseville. He has also written for the N Magazine and Sacramento School Beat.

The episode will go live on September 10.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024

Episode 251 with Alexandra Alessandri, Author of Grow Up, Luchy Zapata; Lupita's Hurricane Palomitas, and Other Beautiful, Affirming Books for Children and All Readers

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024

Notes and Links to Alexandra Alessandri’s Work

For Episode 251, Pete welcomes Alexandra Alessandri, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early experiences with Spanish and English and bilingualism, formative and transformative writers and writing (Marquez! Allende! Santiago!), both past and present, representation in children’s lit and beyond, muses and the Las Musas Collective that spurs on her writing, soccer fanaticism, and salient themes and issues in her work like reassurance for children in a scary world, family bonds, community, inevitable change, and biculturalism.

Alexandra Alessandri is the author of several books for children, including Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! (2020), Isabel and Her Colores Go to School (2021), The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía (2023), Our World Colombia (2024), Lupita’s Hurricane Palomitas (2024), and Grow Up, Luchy Zapata (2024), which is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Her short story “Kaleidoscope” is forthcoming in the YA verse anthology All The Love Under the Vast Sky (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025). Her books have gone on to receive numerous distinctions, including the Florida Book Award, International Latino Book Award, Américas Award Commendable Title, and the ILA 2022 Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award in Primary Fiction.

The daughter of Colombian immigrants, Alexandra is a former Associate Professor of English at Broward College, where she currently teaches as an adjunct, and an instructor at UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program. She is also a writer for Curriculum Associates and a poet, with some of her work appearing in The Acentos Review, Rio Grande Review, Atlanta Review, and Young Adult Review Network. She received her BA and MA degrees in English from Florida International University and a Certificate in Fiction Writing from UCLA Extension.

Alexandra’s experience growing up straddling both cultures often influences her children’s fiction and poetry. When not writing or teaching, Alexandra spends her time planning the next great adventure with her husband and son, with whom she lives in South Florida.

Buy Grow Up, Luchy Zapata

Review by Amanda MacGregor for Teen Librarian Toolbox

Alexandra's Website

At about 2:30, Alexandra talks about an exciting 2024

At about 3:15, Alexandra describes her multifaceted language background

At about 4:30, Alexandra outlines the memorable “atmosphere” and the reading nooks of the libraries of her childhood, as well as what series and books she was into

At about 6:10, Alexandra reflects on how she didn’t always see herself reflected in what she read growing up, and how that has informed her own writing journey

At about 7:30, Reading nook discussion!

At about 8:15, Alexandra talks about a pivotal moment in her reading and representation as she wanted to do her masters thesis

At about 9:20, Gabo fan girling and boying, as Pete again shouts out “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” and “Someone Has Been Disarranging These Roses”

At about 11:00, Alexandra talks about writers who made her want to become a writer herself-transformational writers like Isabel Allende and Esmeralda Santiago

At about 12:30, Alexandra shouts out Adriana Cuevas, Rebecca Balcárcel and other contemporaries who thrill and inspire her, including Las Musas, a collective

At about 14:20, Alexandra responds to Pete’s questions about genres and where she places herself

At about 15:30, Alexandra responds to Pete’s questions about if/how she reads differently as an author

At about 16:30, Pete cites the greatness of Ingrid Rojas Contreras

At about 16:55, Pete asks about Alexandra’s muses within her own family, and the two discuss the vagaries of middle school and its changes

At about 19:40, Pete recounts Luchy Zapata’s first line and dedication and some of the book’s exposition

At about 22:00, Cami is analyzed as “the perfect Colombian,” as is Nucita brand

At about 23:45, Alexandra discusses makeup as a “rite of passage,” in relation to Luchy’s thoughts in the book

At about 25:50, Alexandra breaks down a hurtful comment from the book

At about 26:50, Pete asks Alexandra about the character of Melissa and ideas of “reinventing” oneself

At about 27:55, Awkwardness between good friends is discussed, as is a meaningful scrapbook

At about 29:25, Luchy and his father’s relationship, especially through soccer’s importance, is explored

At about 31:55, Luchy’s short foray into being more like Cami and ideas of “being true to yourself” are discussed

At about 34:45, Alexandra discusses insecurity and confusion involving Luchy’s views on her heritage

At about 36:00, Pete highlights the book’s greatness in its hyperspecificity and also its universal issues/themes; Alexandra cites her history and her son’s history in crafting Luchy’s character

At about 38:20, Alexandra expands on the various uses of “gringita” in Colombia

At about 39:35, Mateo and his friendship and his family troubles are discussed

At about 40:45, Pete asks Alexandra about how her book was informed by the immediacy of adolescent issues

At about 43:10, The discussion of Lupita’s Hurricane Palomitas begins, as the two talk about various meanings of “palomitas”-shoutout to AC Quintero!

At about 44:15, Alexandra talks about what it’s like living in a hurricane zone

At about 45:40, Alexandra reflects on ideas of communities coming together after disasters, as plays out in her children’s book

At about 46:40, Pete cites Levar Burton’s The Rhino Who Swallowed the Storm and Lupita and books that bring comfort and reassurance to kids, and Pete discusses an early story he wrote gone wrong

At about 49:40, Alexandra shares exciting new projects, including a personal piece coming out in January

At about 51:15, Alexandra gives contact info, social media info, and places to buy her book, including the great Books and Books

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 252 with Byron Graves. He is an Ojibwe writer born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where he played high school basketball. When he isn't writing, he can be found playing retro video games, spending time with his family, or cheering on his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves. Rez Ball is his debut novel.

The episode will go live on September 10.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Monday Aug 26, 2024

Episode 250 with Ben Tanzer, Author of The Missing, a Fresh Take on Old Tropes, and Podcaster, Coach, Strategist, and More-All Creative Pursuits for The Renaissance Man

Monday Aug 26, 2024

Notes and Links to Ben Tanzer’s Work

For Episode 250, Pete welcomes Ben Tanzer, and the two discuss, among other topics, his childhood love of books, formative and transformative writers and writing, bothy past and present, muses, Jim Carroll and his powerful and pivotal work, Ben’s podcast and motivations for living the creative life, and salient themes and issues in his novel like sacrifice, family bonds, parenthood, small towns, the unknown, and awe.

Ben Tanzer is an Emmy-award winning coach, creative strategist, podcaster, writer, teacher and social worker who has been helping nonprofits, publishers, authors, small business and career changers tell their stories for 20 plus years. He serves as a Lecturer (and part-time faculty) at Lake Forest College, where he teaches LOOP 202: 21st Century Development and Liberal Arts and The Workplace.

He produces and hosts This Podcast Will Change Your Life (300+ episodes and counting), which was launched in February 2010, focuses on authors and changemakers from around the country and the world, and was named by Elephant Journal as one of "The 10 Best Podcasts to Help you Change your Life.

His written work includes the short story collection UPSTATE, the science fiction novel Orphans and the essay collections Lost in Space and Be Cool. I'm a storySouth and Pushcart nominee, a finalist for the Annual National Indie Excellence and Eric Hoffer Book Awards, a winner of the Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival Nonfiction Prose Award and a Midwest Book Award.

Buy The Missing

A Conversation with Ben in The Chicago Review

Ben Tanzer’s Website

At about 2:15, Ben gives background on the “creative life” and his day-to-day and “hustle”

At about 5:30, Ben describes the importance of an “awesomely discouraging” tax person when one lives the creative life

At about 6:45, Ben shouts out Columbia College in Chicago

At about 7:45, Ben discusses his early relationship with reading and the written word

At about 10:00, Ben talks about meaningful feedback in a writing class and how he started his writing career

At about 11:10, Ben cites Jim Carroll’s Basketball Diaries, DeGrazia’s American Skin, and other formative texts, like Catcher in the Rye, Will Allison and Joe Mino,

At about 14:10, Ben reflects on the importance of cross country and wrestling in his life

At about 15:10, Ben shouts out Wendy C. Ortiz’s Excavation, Gina Frangello, Donald Quist, Joe Meno, Sara Lippman, Alice Kaltman, Gionna Cromley, Lee Matthew Goldberg, and Lisa Cross Smith as writers and writing that thrills and inspires and “crush[es]” him

At about 17:30, Pete cites the thrill of meeting standout writers, and Ben expands upon ideas of the brain being “profoundly affected” by meeting literary heroes

At about 20:10, Ben talks about his podcast and its roots and philosophy

At about 22:30, Ben responds to Pete’s question about Ben’s viewpoint on the “muse,” in both his writing and his podcasting-shout out to SpiderMeka!

At about 27:15, Pete and Ben lay out the book’s exposition and Ben discusses the book’s seeds

At about 29:45, Ben gives background on a stimulating idea provided by his agent

At about 31:45, The two discuss the aging and maturing or not of the central characters of the book

At about 36:00, The two discuss how Ben writes about “what could have been” in using “speculative flashbacks” and ideas of the sexualization of young girls, especially in missing children cases; Ben shouts out Emily Schultz’s Little Threats

At about 40:35, Ben reflects on playing with the idea of having a kid who would dare date someone with a bad haircut, etc.

At about 42:25, The two discuss unprocessed traumas and Hannah and Gabriel’s mindsets and an awe-inspiring scene involving trains

At about 47:00-Bobby Baccala and the trains-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

At about 47:45, Ben responds to Pete’s comments about Gabriel being referenced in the book as a “good father and a bad husband”

At about 51:45, Pete wonders about Krista’s reasons for leaving, and Ben talks about the unknown and his rationale in using a lot of unknown, as well as how many real-life parallels he’s seen to the book’s events

At about 55:35, A key question about living one’s best life is explored

At about 56:15, Casting choices abound! and Ben expands on his interest in Officer John

At about 57:35, Ed, father of Hannah, is explored as a victim and a great listener, and Gabriel’s mother as an “enabler” is expanded upon

At about 1:01:05, Ben gives contact info and social media information

At about 1:03:10, Pete and Ben discuss the buying domain business

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 251 with Alexandra Alessandri. She is the author of several books for children, including Isabel and Her Colores Go to School (2021), and Grow Up, Luchy Zapata (2024), a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; her books have received numerous distinctions, including the International Latino Book Award

The episode will go live on September 3.

Lastly, please go to https://ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Tuesday Aug 20, 2024

Episode 249 with Jesse Katz, Author of The Rent Collectors, Ardent Researcher and Thorough and Thoughtful Researcher

Tuesday Aug 20, 2024

Notes and Links to Jesse Katz’s Work

For Episode 249, Pete welcomes Jesse Katz, and the two discuss, among other topics, his childhood love of baseball, formative and transformative books and writers, lessons learned from early writing, LA and MacArthur Park lore, and salient themes and issues in the book like poverty and the punitive nature of powerful interests, grief, and various forms of violence, as well as larger narratives about the immigration system, family units, and traumas and silences.

Jesse Katz is a former Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Magazine writer whose honors include the James Beard Foundation’s M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award, PEN Center USA’s Literary Journalism Award, a National Magazine Award nomination, and two shared Pulitzer Prizes. As a volunteer with InsideOUT Writers, he has mentored incarcerated teenagers at Central Juvenile Hall and the former California Youth Authority.

Buy The Rent Collectors

Jesse Katz's Website

New York Times Review of The Rent Collectors

At about 2:00, the two discuss Jesse’s recent book launch at Skylight Books, which Pete was lucky to attend

At about 4:10, Jesse talks about generous feedback, including from those featured in the book

At about 6:30, Jesse discusses the experience of recording the audio for his book

At about 9:45, Jesse gives background on his relationship with language growing up

At about 12:15, The two share memories of reading formative works on Jackie Robinson

At about 14:30, Jesse describes takeaways from his adolescent readings of Hemingway, Kerouac, and immersive writers, and college reading that “flipped the switch,” including Joe McGinniss and Hunter Thompson

At about 18:15, Jesse talks about his relationship with his alma mater, Bennington College, and Bret Easton Ellis and other standout alumni

At about 19:55, Jesse highlights Matthew Desmond and Susan Orlean as contemporary writers (especially Orlean with her The Library Book and Desmond with his Poverty by América, an inspiration for The Rent Collectors) who inspire and thrill

At about 22:55, Pete makes a connection between American Psycho and The Rent Collectors, especially with regards to litanies, and Jesse expands on “the cost of being poor”

At about 24:50, Pete and Jesse talk about Jesse’s book, The Opposite Field, and connections to the great Luis J. Rodriguez

At about 27:50, Jesse responds to Pete’s questions about how he sees the book now, speaking about The Opposite Field

At about 29:00, Pete highlights a generous blurb from hector Tobar, and Jesse outlines how Hector’s support propelled Jesse to get to work on realizing the book’s finish

At about 32:00, Jesse cites Giovanni’s (Macedo, the book’s protagonist) own healing and his generosity in sharing his story

At about 34:00, Pete and Jesse discuss the book’s opening, and why Jesse decided to start the book in the middle of the story with Giovanni “rising from the dead”

At about 38:50, Jesse gives background on Giovanni’s backstory, especially with regard to his father, and not knowing the reason for his father’s death

At about 42:10, Jesse expands upon the setting of MacArthur Park, the focus of the book’s Chapter Two, and its denseness and uniqueness in LA

At about 43:30, The two discuss Giovanni’s early forays into gang life and some members of the clique featured in the book

At about 45:30, Jesse speaks about Reyna, Giovanni’s mother, and how she felt powerless in keeping her son from gangs

At about 47:40, Jesse speaks to the staying power of gangs and how they “[fill] a void,” and Pete quotes Father Greg Boyle and his thoughts on hopelessness

At about 49:45, Jesse replies to Pete’s question about Francisco Clemente, who survived the targeted shooting by Giovanni and how he stood up against the rent collectors

At about 51:20, Jesse describes the “older, savvier gang members” who were sought out by Giovanni

At about 54:30, Pete and Jesse talk about how he sets the scene in the book for the horrendous events perpetuated by the gang and Giovanni; Jesse also details how he used court transcripts and written correspondence with Giovanni to piece together Giovanni’s thoughts before and after the shooting

At about 58:30, The backlash and early investigations about the homicide are discussed

At about 1:00:45, Pete charts Giovanni’s life in the immediate aftermath of the murder, and Jesse responds to a question about his a key decision

At about 1:04:10, Jesse speaks to the naivete of Giovanni’s dialogue with Holmes, the investigator

At about 1:05:40, The two discuss sentencing for Giovanni and his reflection on his crimes and aftermath

At about 1:07:00, Jesse talks about Daniela, the mother of Luis Angel, and how he tried and failed to find her to speak with for the book, and why it was maybe for the good that she didn’t have to relive the trauma

At about 1:09:45, Jesse ruminates on Giovanni’s future

At about 1:11:15, Jesse reflects on how the book may help him with his parole

At about 1:13:00, Pete and Jesse trade quotes and meditate on the book’s hopeful lessons

At about 1:14:50, Jesse gives contact info and book buying information

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 249 with Ben Tanzer. He is an Emmy-award winning coach, creative strategist, podcaster, writer, teacher and social worker who has been helping nonprofits, publishers, authors, small business and career changers tell their stories for 20 plus years.

He produces and hosts This Podcast Will Change Your Life, which was launched in February 2010, focuses on authors and changemakers from around the country and the world, and was named by Elephant Journal as one of "The 10 Best Podcasts to Help you Change your Life.”

His written work includes the short story collection UPSTATE, the science fiction novel Orphans and the essay collections Lost in Space and Be Cool. His most recent novel is The Missing.

The episode will go live on August 27.

Lastly, please go to https://ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Monday Aug 19, 2024

Episode 248 with Katya Apekina, Author of the Hilarious, Offbeat, Tragic, Cathartic Mother Doll, and Multiskilled and Multidimensional Writer

Monday Aug 19, 2024

Notes and Links to Katya Apekina’s Work

For Episode 248, Pete welcomes Katya Apekina, and the two discuss, among other topics, her language abilities and her extensive cross-cultural readings; motherhood, the loss of loved ones, and other catalysts for Mother Doll, and salient themes and issues in her collection like intergenerational traumas, women’s agency, fatalism, guilt, and redemption.

Katya Apekina is a novelist, screenwriter and translator. Her novel, The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish, was named a Best Book of 2018 by Kirkus, Buzzfeed, LitHub and others, was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and has been translated into Spanish, Catalan, French, German and Italian. She has published stories in various literary magazines and translated poetry and prose for Night Wraps the Sky: Writings by and about Mayakovsky (FSG, 2008), short-listed for the Best Translated Book Award. She co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film New Orleans, Mon Amour, which premiered at SXSW in 2008. She is the recipient of an Elizabeth George grant, an Olin Fellowship, the Alena Wilson prize and a 3rd Year Fiction Fellowship from Washington University in St. Louis where she did her MFA. She has done residencies at VCCA, Playa, Ucross, Art Omi: Writing and Fondation Jan Michalski in Switzerland. Born in Moscow, she grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter and dog.

Buy Mother Doll

“Katya Apekina’s ‘Mother Doll’ isn’t your ordinary ghost story” in The Los Angeles Times

Katya's Website

At about 2:40, Katya talks about her early experiences in being bilingual and how her early language learning has affected her reading and writing and ways of seeing the world

At about 6:05, Katya talks about ways in which Russian writing manifests itself

At about 8:00, Katya catalogs formative and informative writers and writing upon which she draws inspiration

At about 9:45, Katya details a Holden Caulfield-esque action she took in high school

At about 10:45, The two discuss cool craft techniques of Chekhov

At about 11:25, Katya outlines the beginnings of her formal writing life after pivoting from photography, including the power of Charles Simic and Roberto Bolaño

At about 14:45, Katya highlights contemporary writers who inspire and thrill her, including Sasha Vasilyuk and Ruth Madievsky, and Alexandra Tanner

At about 17:35, Pete shares the wonderful reviews for the book, including Lauren Groff’s

At about 18:20, Katya shares seeds for the book, especially with regards to intergenerational traumas

At about 21:45, Katya recounts some plot summary and real-life inspirations and parallels

At about 22:50, Pete quotes the book’s first line-a “banger”-and Katya gives background on the book’s sequencing

At about 25:25, Pete sets some of the book’s exposition and asks Katya about the “chorus” and her visual idea of this chorus

At about 27:20, Irina is introduced and the two discuss her wanting to relieve her burdens, and Katya describes what Zhenia might see in Anton/Ben

At about 30:10, Katya responds to Pete’s questions about why Zhenia decides to help translate for Paul, the medium, regarding her great-grandmother

At about 33:00, Katya expands upon Paul’s reasons for getting into the medium space, as well as how some people are many “permeable” to messaging from beyond

At about 35:10, Pete traces some early flashbacks from Irina and her early leanings towards revolution

At about 36:15, Katya responds to Pete’s asking about Hanna and other characters and their motivations and possible naivete

At about 39:00, Pete and Katya discuss the changing and convoluted factions and connections that characterized the Russian Revolution, and the differing visions of change

At about 41:50, Katya talks about how Zhenia thinks of her grandmother’s death and funeral

At about 43:30, Pete asks about parallels in the book, both on the micro and macro levels; Katya speaks about “iterations” of history

At about 46:30, Pete alludes to “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros in asking Katya to speak to the significance of the book’s title

At about 48:40, The two discuss fatalism as a common theme in Russian diasporic literature in general, and this book in particular

At about 51:00, Katya talks about exciting upcoming projects

At about 52:00, Katya gives contact info and social media information

This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 249 with Jesse Katz, whose writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Details, Texas Monthly, Food & Wine, Men's Health, and many other publications. His work has been anthologized in Best American Magazine Writing and Best American Crime Writing; his latest book is the critically-acclaimed The Rent Collectors, about the reverberations of a tragic murder in LA’s MacArthur Park area.

The episode airs later today, August 20.

Lastly, please go to https://ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.