Two writers from California’s Central Valley. Gary Soto in conversation about his latest book What Poets are Like, Up and Down with the Writing Life. Rosemary Manchester talks with Gerald Haslam on In Thought and Action, the Enigmatic Life of S.I. Hayakawa.

A Novel Idea for September is a preview of the Sonoma County Book Festival with Vickie DeArmon from Copperfield’s Books, along with Rosemary Manchester and musician and literary scholar Sarah Baker talking about Dorothy Allison’s Cavedweller. Allison is just one of the authors featured at this year’s Festival.

It's "people helping people" on A Novel Idea this month with Paola Gianturco who brings us tales of Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon, to change the future for our children; and Dr. Rick Flinders brings us The Santa Rosa Reader: A Personal Anthology from the Family Medicine Residency.

Jane Vandenburgh in conversation with Suzanne Lang on Jane's memoir, The Wrong Dog Dream; Rosemary Manchester talks with novelist Kathleen Alcott on her debut novel The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets. Barbara Quick reviews Cheryl Strayed's Wild, from Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Mina Loy was a quintessential Modernist artist, essayist, and poet who most people never heard! She lived in the center of circles that included Gertrude Stein, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray. Carolyn Burke, author of Becoming Modern, the Life of Mina Loy joins Suzanne Lang in conversation. Barbara Quick reviews Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life.

- Jonah Raskin with his book James McGrath: In a Class by Himself

- Alison Owings and Indian Voices: Listening to Native Americans

- Barbara Quick’s review of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend

The Poetry of Emily Dickinson featuring segments with Iris Dunkle, Barbara Dana, and Barbara Quick.

Born and raised in Petaluma California, Kathleen Alcott studied in Southern California, lived in San Francisco, and presently resides in Brooklyn New York. Kathleen talks with Rosemary Manchester about her debut novel, The Dangers of Proximal Alphabets. http://kathleenalcott.com

The Last Resort is Pat Nolan’s fast paced pulp thriller and Suzanne Lang talks with Pat about his novel and his life as a writer. http://nuallainhousepublishers.com/the-last-resort

Author and resident reviewer Barbara Quick examines Michael Chabon and his most recent publication, Telegraph Avenue. http://www.barbaraquick.com

It’s the Short Story

Stefanie Freele blurs the edges between reality and dream, while pulling the reader into a rich emotional landscape. Stefanie talks with Suzanne Lang about her most recent book, Surrounded by Water (Press 53). www.stefaniefreele.com

Dan Coshnear is admired by readers and other authors for the intelligence and clarity of his short stories. Dan and Suzanne talk about the nature of his craft and he reads from Occupy and Other Lover Stories (Kelly’s Cove Press).

Barbara Quick explores the rediscovery of a literary master, Hungarian author Sandor Marai and his books Embers and Portrait of a Marriage. http://www.barbaraquick.com

Join Larry Slater, Sonoma County’s Jazz MD in conversation with photographer Kathy Sloane on the release of her book Keystone Korner: portrait of a jazz club. Keystone Korner was a small San Francisco club which saw incredible jazz greats such as Dexter Gordon, Bill Evans, and Art Blakey, performing in the late seventies and early eighties. Sloane was the resident photographer and her book, edited by Sascha Feinstein with a preface by Al Young, is an intimate portrait of the place and the people of Keystone. Larry Slater will host a special edition of Jazz Connections featuring the music of Keystone Korner on Saturday, December 29th, 8-midnight.

Chuck Sher, jazz musician, music publisher, and host of KRCB’s Jazz Connections talks with Jacob Needleman on his most recent work, An Unknown World: Notes on the Meaning of the Earth. Longtime professor of philosophy at San Francisco State, Needleman has spent is life and work exploring the nature of who we are, often through the lens of his own life experience; breaking through the academic, he brings abstract concepts into the real world of our lives.

Grief stricken at the death of her mother, with her life careening out of control and by no means a backpacker, Cheryl Strayed decides to hike the length of the Pacific Crest Trail. Her journey is one of beauty and pain, loss and compassion. Author and regular contributor, Barbara Quick reviews Cheryl Strayed’s best selling memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.

It’s A Novel Idea.