PWN's Debut Review

Today’s guest, Mannikka Rosa, is an educator, entrepreneur, and spoken-word artist. She uses hip hop pedagogy to more fully engage her students in innovative ways through her consulting firm, The Educationalist Method.

Today, we talk about learning to love language in church, encouraging the shyest of learners, and promoting diversity in the performing arts. Rosa performs a thrilling, dynamic slam poem, and then further discusses her interests in literary narrative and community-based change.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

Today we speak to Adam Vitcavage, founder of Debutiful, a literary webpage and podcast. Much like PWN’s Debut Review, Debutiful focuses on connecting readers and listeners with debut authors. Adam is also the Director of Events at Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado.

In Episode Four of Season Four, we talk to Adam about how to start a podcast, how to interview famous people, how to understand our mothers, and how to read really great books. Adam also offers a list of his current must reads.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

Jennifer Chauhan, the executive director of Project Write Now, joins us as guest cohost today. Courtney and Jennifer interview Raakhee Mirchandani, a journalist, podcaster, mother, and children’s book author. Mirchandani’s latest release, My Diwali Light, is in bookstores now.

In this third episode of Season Four, we talk to Raakhee about working for school newspapers, finding personal storytelling powers, celebrating diverse identities and cultural traditions, and watching late-night television. Raakhee also regales us with a sumptuous list of food, film, and book recommendations.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

We continue Season Four with Courtney Maum, a writer and book coach. Maum’s debut memoir, The Year of the Horses, was released in May from Tin House. Maum has also previously published three novels and a very handy craft guide called Before and After the Book Deal.

In this second episode, Maum chats with us about parenting creative children, playing polo, recording audiobooks during the pandemic, favorite podcasts, home improvement shows, and horses horses horses. Maum also teases her current project, a new novel-in-progress.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

Today, we launch Season Four with Chen Chen, a poet, essayist, instructor, and editor. His first collection, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities, won the prestigious Thom Gunn Award. His second collection, Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency, is now available from BOA Editions. Also, a book of essays is forthcoming in 2023.

In this first episode of the brand new season, Chen shares his journey, thus far, as a writer. We discuss multilingualism, multiverses, multimedia, and finally, all manner of ice cream.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

NOTE: This updated episode includes bonus material—on-site interviews with attendees at Alan Heathcock's book launch event this summer in Boise, Idaho, as well as congratulations from friends (and former podcast guests) Brittany Ackerman and Brandon Dudley.

Alan Heathcock joins us to close this summer’s Season Three. Al is the award-winning author of Volt, a collection of short stories, and a new novel, 40, out today from Macmillan Publishers. Ray and Courtney both studied with Al at Sierra Nevada University, and we are absolutely thrilled to reconnect with him here for the podcast.

For this special episode, Al shares his lifelong fascination with story. From reading Charlotte’s Web as a bashful young boy to now writing “secular bible stories,” Alan Heathcock is a self-professed “consumer of story.” We discuss the creation of literary art, and what it really takes to write empathetic, authentic narrative despite the pressures of the modern market.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

Brett Riley joins us for Episode Three of Season Three. Brett is a writer and professor based in Las Vegas, Nevada. His debut young adult novel, Freaks, with Imbrifex Books, hit the shelves in March and the next book in the series, Travelers, will be available everywhere in August.

In this episode, we talk to Brett about the importance of authentic narratives for young readers. Then we delve deeply into the fraught function of violence in superhero stories. Brett also shares his varied tastes in music and his experience with a local independent press.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

In Episode Two of Season Three, we feature Cori Thomas, coauthor of the new memoir I Cried to Dream Again: Trafficking, Murder, and Deliverance, with Sara Kruzan. Cori is a playwright, screenwriter, actor, and activist of Liberian and Brazilian descent.

Today, we discuss Cori’s role in co-writing Sara’s groundbreaking memoir, her longtime advocacy for the rights of incarcerated individuals, and her other interests, such as pandemic baking projects. We think you’ll enjoy hearing Cori’s perspectives.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.

We’re launching Season Three with contributors to the new book called New Jersey Fan Club: Artists & Writers Celebrate the Garden State. Kerri Sullivan edited the collection, and she’s brought with her to the podcast two additional essayists: Brittany Coppla and Donnie Martino. 

Today, we chat with all three writers about their contributions to the collection. They read from their work and share their creative inspirations. We think you’ll find this debut conversation both entertaining and thought-provoking.

PWN's Debut Review is hosted by Project Write Now, a nonprofit writing studio. Learn more at projectwritenow.org.