Episode 209 with Julie Carrick Dalton, Standout Worldbuilder and Crafter of Plot Twists, Memorable Characters, Salient Storylines, and Author of The Last Beekeeper

 

Notes and Links to Julie Carrick Dalton’s Work

 

 

   For Episode 209, Pete welcomes Julie Carrick Dalton, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early relationship with nature and reading, formative and transformative teachers, how her journalism career informs her fiction and vice versa, the wondrous bee, and salient themes and topics from her book, including ecology, loss and love, climate change and hope, and whether the book is a call to action.  

   

   Julie Carrick Dalton is the author of The Last Beekeeper and Waiting for the Night Song, a CNN, USA Today, Parade, and Newsweek Most Anticipated novel. Her writing has appeared in BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Hollywood Reporter, Orion, Chicago Review of Books, Lit Hub, Electric Literature, and other publications. An adjunct writing instructor for Drexel University’s MFA program, Julie is currently working on her third novel, slated for publication in 2025.

 

Julie's Website

 

Buy The Last Beekeeper

 

Book Review from New York Journal of Books

At about 1:30, the two discuss Philadelphia

 

At about 3:00, Julie discusses her upcoming novel, slated for 2025 publication

 

At about 4:40, Julie describes her experiences as a child with story-including puppeteering!-and nature

 

At about 6:45, Squirrels and chipmunks-which are which?

 

At about 7:45, More discussion of puppets shows and foibles!

 

At about 8:30, Julie and Pete discuss loss of innocence and awe and wonder, and Julie expands on some of her writing that deals with these topics

 

At about 10:05, Julie discusses formative and transformative reading-including work about “mysterious events”

 

At about 11:05-12:40, Julie shares experiences with two inspirational teachers of hers and the ways in which her writing skill and affection grew

 

At about 12:45, Julie responds to Pete’s questions about the ways in which journalism affects her fiction writing and vice versa

 

At about 15:00, When asked to name some current writing that moves and challenges her, Julie shouts out the “engaging” climate reporting from The New York Times, and Charlotte McConaghy

 

At about 17:15, Julie shares an anecdote about how teaching and parenting have influenced her writing, including a boat trip that led to a book

 

At about 20:15, Julie responds to Pete’s question about seeds for the book by referencing a real-life loss of 40,000 bees

 

At about 22:00, Julie speaks about bees’ importance and how food security and honeybees’ pollination 

 

At about 25:45, Pete and Julie discuss the book’s opening scene and the ways in which fictional and real bees are in tune with the “G” note and ideas of “harmony”

 

At about 28:20, Pete marvels at ideas of notes and harmonizing in music, and Julie as a violinist and pianist explains a bit further

 

At about 29:30, Pete sets the book’s exposition and asks Julie to summarize the state of the world in the book’s adult timeline 

 

At about 33:00, Julie explains why she chose to omit any mentions of time/years/etc.

 

At about 33:40, The two discuss and characterize some people in the book, including the protagonist's family and her housemates/squatters, and Julie explains some motivations for the “found family” members

 

At about 36:15, Julie responds to Pete’s wondering about the world of the story and homophobia 

 

At about 37:30, Pete refers to the book’s apiary and inquires about any psychological insights Julie might have in the father’s actions and choices

 

At about 40:25, Julie discusses Sasha’s relationships with the bees and her deceased mother 

 

At about 43:10, Julie expands upon the character of Uncle Chuck, “a complicated guy”

 

At about 45:50, Another Sopranos’ reference from Pete!

 

At about 47:00, Julie tiptoes around some plot spoilers in describing the book’s pivotal 11th birthday for Sasha

 

At about 48:25, Pete and Julie discuss some intriguing characters in the book

 

At about 50:10, Pete compliments the book’s ending and asks Julie about the book as a “call to action”; she talks about the book as allegory and as story 

 

At about 52:00, Julie brings forth some hopeful ideas in the book regarding nature/climate change and she and Pete discuss her elimination of oil and gas in the future

 

At about 53:55, Pete notes interesting ideas of nature as cyclical and points to “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Bradbury

 

At about 55:40, Julie gives out social media information and recommends indie stores to buy her book, as well as Bookshop.org

  

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Please tune in for Episode 210 with Dan Sinykin. He is assistant professor of English at Emory University with a courtesy appointment in Quantitative Theory and Methods whose book, Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry and American Literature, comes out with Columbia University Press on October 24, the date the episode airs.