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What’s in your junk drawer? For writer Alexander Chee, answering that question resulted in a critically-acclaimed collection of essays entitled How To Write An Autobiographical Novel. Alex sits down with host Amanda Stern to talk about personal growth, what we can learn from roses, fair pay in the workplace, and divining the mysteries of the universe through tarot.

About the Author:

Alexander Chee is the author of the novels Edinburgh and The Queen of the Night, and the essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel, all from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

He is a contributing editor at The New Republic, and an editor at large at VQR. His essays and stories have appeared in the New York Times Book Review, T Magazine, Tin House, Slate, and Guernica, among others.

He is the winner of a 2003 Whiting Award, a 2004 NEA Fellowship in prose and a 2010 MCCA Fellowship, and residency fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the VCCA, Civitella Ranieri and Amtrak. Chee is an associate professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College.

Episode Credits:

This episode was produced, mixed, and sound-designed by Andrew Dunn, with editorial help from Beau Friedlander. Our host and co-producer is Amanda Stern. 

Music:

“Rufus Canis” by Rufus Canis, “Timeless Love” by Joonie, “The Finch” by Rufus Canis, “Bloom” by Brian Sussman, “Anti Atlas” by Angele David Guillou, “Better” by Jackie Hill Perry,, “Uni Swing Vox” by Rufus Canis, “Grin” by JPoetic.

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In a time of great political and social division, how do you tackle tricky topics with your loved ones? Or even trickier--with your mixed-race child?

Enter Good Talk, Mira Jacob’s captivating illustrated memoir that offers a truly unique look at the way we communicate, and how we navigate those uncomfortable topics with the important people in our lives — and how those efforts, no matter how well intentioned, can hit a dead end.

About the Author:

Mira Jacob is the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing. Her recent work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, Vogue, Glamour, Tin House, Electric Literature and Literary Hub. She lives in Brooklyn.

Episode Credits:

This episode was produced, mixed, and sound-designed by Andrew Dunn, with editorial help from Beau Friedlander. Our host and co-producer is Amanda Stern. 

Music:

 “Krang” by The Brow, “Blackberry” by Oatmello, “Feathers” by The Flavr Blue, “Good Morning Melody” by Lullatone, “Giulia’s Theme” by Rubycon, “Uni Swing Vox” by Rufus Cani, “Books that Bounce” by Rufus Canis.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices