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Episode 103 with Tracey Thompson, Short-Story Reader Extraordinaire, Shirley Jackson Fan, and Publisher of the ”California Reading” Project
Episode 103 Notes and Links
On Episode 103 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Tracey Thompson, a super reader, especially of short stories. The two discuss, among other things, indelible stories and her memories of their initial impact, the wondrous beauty of libraries, her writing music and theater criticism, her unabashed fandom of Shirley Jackson, and her quest to read a short story a day for her ‘California Reading” Project.
California Reading is written by Tracey Thompson. Tracey is a British expat living in Southern California with her daughter, husband, and books. Her daughter is named after her favorite Shirley Jackson character; can you guess which one it is?
In her twenty-year writing career, Tracey has written for various music magazines and theatre websites, but now prefers more sedate pleasures. And looser deadlines.
Since April 2018, Tracey has read a short story (almost) every day. You can follow her ever-growing list at https://california-reading.com/.
Tracey Thompson’s Website- “California Reading”
Tracey Thompson’s Short Story Tracker
Tracey Thompson's Goodreads Page
At about 2:05, Tracey discusses her reading interests and relationship to language as a kid, as well as an early formative reading experience with Roald Dahl’s “The Hitchhiker”
At about 7:00, Tracey talks about coming to books later in life after being recommended them earlier in life
At about 9:15, Tracey gives background on her writing about music and theater for Big Cheese Magazine
At about 12:15, Pete asks Tracey about criticism and the possibilities for the medium
At about 14:15, Pete wonders about Tracey’s reading and reviewing for pleasure versus for “work”
At about 17:10, Pete asks about Tracey’s reading tendencies before she started her short story reading quest
At about 18:05, Tracey responds to Pete’s asking about the genesis of her short story quest, and she shouts out her liberal usage of the fabulous library system
At about 20:40, Pete shouts out the Cerritos Library
At about 21:50, Tracey talks about electronic books versus physical books
At about 23:05, Tracey talks about her daily short story reading habits and shouts out Alison Rumfitt’s Tell Me I’m Worthless
At about 25:30, Pete and Tracey talk about short stories versus novels and their various charms
At about 27:05, Pete and Tracey geek out about the greatness of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, as Pete tells his story of discovering the story later in life, and Tracey talks about being “hypnotized” by the story, as well as subsequent Jackson work
At about 30:40, Tracey details the underrated humor and lack of confidence that Shirley Jackson had in her life
At about 32:40, Tracey cites “The Old Man” by Daphne DuMaurier and Samantha Schweblin’s “Unstep” as unforgettable stories where she remembers where she was when she read them
At about 34:20, Tracey explains her reading journal’s “Saddest Short Story” citation, Malachi Whitaker’s “The Music Box,” brought back by Persephone Books
At about 36:10, Pete wonders if Tracey has a favorite genre
At about 39:00, Reading = self-care!
At about 39:45, Pete asks about George Saunders, and Tracey gives some feedback on his story collection
At about 41:25, Pete wonders if Tracey has any recs on quirky, unique, underrated writers; Tracey includes Camille Grudova, whose “Waxy” was the first story read for Tracey’s quest, Julie Armfield, and more
At about 43:15, Pete gives two recs-Louise Erdrich, particularly “The Red Convertible,” and Antonya Nelson’s In the Land of Men
At about 44:30, Tracey talks about Netgalley, Goodreads, and the “review culture”
At about 47:00, Tracey talks about literary journals and the myriad ways in which to support short story writers and get short stories
At about 48:25, Pete wonders about the future for the California Reading project
At about 50:00, Pete and Tracey talk about the particular challenges
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Episode 103 Notes and Links
On Episode 103 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Tracey Thompson, a super reader, especially of short stories. The two discuss, among other things, indelible stories and her memories of their initial impact, the wondrous beauty of libraries, her writing music and theater criticism, her unabashed fandom of Shirley Jackson, and her quest to read a short story a day for her ‘California Reading” Project.
California Reading is written by Tracey Thompson. Tracey is a British expat living in Southern California with her daughter, husband, and books. Her daughter is named after her favorite Shirley Jackson character; can you guess which one it is?
In her twenty-year writing career, Tracey has written for various music magazines and theatre websites, but now prefers more sedate pleasures. And looser deadlines.
Since April 2018, Tracey has read a short story (almost) every day. You can follow her ever-growing list at https://california-reading.com/.
Tracey Thompson’s Website- “California Reading”
Tracey Thompson’s Short Story Tracker
Tracey Thompson's Goodreads Page
At about 2:05, Tracey discusses her reading interests and relationship to language as a kid, as well as an early formative reading experience with Roald Dahl’s “The Hitchhiker”
At about 7:00, Tracey talks about coming to books later in life after being recommended them earlier in life
At about 9:15, Tracey gives background on her writing about music and theater for Big Cheese Magazine
At about 12:15, Pete asks Tracey about criticism and the possibilities for the medium
At about 14:15, Pete wonders about Tracey’s reading and reviewing for pleasure versus for “work”
At about 17:10, Pete asks about Tracey’s reading tendencies before she started her short story reading quest
At about 18:05, Tracey responds to Pete’s asking about the genesis of her short story quest, and she shouts out her liberal usage of the fabulous library system
At about 20:40, Pete shouts out the Cerritos Library
At about 21:50, Tracey talks about electronic books versus physical books
At about 23:05, Tracey talks about her daily short story reading habits and shouts out Alison Rumfitt’s Tell Me I’m Worthless
At about 25:30, Pete and Tracey talk about short stories versus novels and their various charms
At about 27:05, Pete and Tracey geek out about the greatness of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, as Pete tells his story of discovering the story later in life, and Tracey talks about being “hypnotized” by the story, as well as subsequent Jackson work
At about 30:40, Tracey details the underrated humor and lack of confidence that Shirley Jackson had in her life
At about 32:40, Tracey cites “The Old Man” by Daphne DuMaurier and Samantha Schweblin’s “Unstep” as unforgettable stories where she remembers where she was when she read them
At about 34:20, Tracey explains her reading journal’s “Saddest Short Story” citation, Malachi Whitaker’s “The Music Box,” brought back by Persephone Books
At about 36:10, Pete wonders if Tracey has a favorite genre
At about 39:00, Reading = self-care!
At about 39:45, Pete asks about George Saunders, and Tracey gives some feedback on his story collection
At about 41:25, Pete wonders if Tracey has any recs on quirky, unique, underrated writers; Tracey includes Camille Grudova, whose “Waxy” was the first story read for Tracey’s quest, Julie Armfield, and more
At about 43:15, Pete gives two recs-Louise Erdrich, particularly “The Red Convertible,” and Antonya Nelson’s In the Land of Men
At about 44:30, Tracey talks about Netgalley, Goodreads, and the “review culture”
At about 47:00, Tracey talks about literary journals and the myriad ways in which to support short story writers and get short stories
At about 48:25, Pete wonders about the future for the California Reading project
At about 50:00, Pete and Tracey talk about the particular challenges
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