On today's show, I talk to writer Heidi Julavits. Originally from Portland, Maine, Heidi is a professor at Columbia and the author of four fantastic books: The Mineral Palace, The Effect of Living Backwards, The Uses of Enchantment, and most recently The Vanishers, which was published in 2012. As well, her short stories have been published in periodicals like McSweeney's, Esquire and Harper's. Heidi is also the co-founder and co-editor of one of the best magazines around The Believer, which is published my McSweeney's.Check out the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, and follow me on Twitter!