Suzanne Lang talks with Matthew Ferrence, who ran for the Pennsylvania State Legislature (and lost) in a gerrymandered red area that is deemed “un-winnable” by Democrats. He tells his story in I Hate it Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay.

Also featured is Suzanne’s conversation with award winning librarian and free speech advocate Amanda Jones, who has been the target of a nasty campaign of harassment from the far right in her home state of Louisiana. Her memoir is That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America.

It’s A Novel Idea on KRCB FM 104.9. streaming and podcasting at krcb.org.

Suzanne Lang talks with philanthropist, motivational speaker, and author Jillian Haslam on her memoir A Voice Out of Poverty. Haslam grew up in India amongst the poorest of the poor, for a time living with her family under a cement stairwell; she miraculously emerged to work in international banking and has founded educational and vocational organizations to give a hand up to those who still struggle.

Also featured is long time NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu, musing on his life and past and the state of the world.

It’s A Novel Idea, Sunday, September 29th at 10am  PT on KRCB FM 104.9, streaming and podcasting at krcb.org.

The German occupation of Paris during World War II was a time of shifting and uncertain alliances, and life for Parisians required a bit of careful attention. Suzanne Lang talks with Aurelie Thiele, author of the historical novel, The Paris Understudy, a sweeping tale of the Paris Opera world, two rival opera singers, their struggle for success amidst Hitler and the Nazis, and their plight to save others victimized by them.

Also featured is Suzanne’s conversation with Brian Belefant on his novella The Sultan of Garbage. An Island of plastic in the Pacific Ocean and the ennui of modern life set this absurdist story in motion.

It’s A Novel Idea on KRCB 104.9.