The Stories Between Us

Christiana Peterson, author of Awakened By Death, shares some stories with us today about what it was like to grow up with a fascination with death, nearly falling into a grave when she was a child, and how she talks to her own kids about mortality. They explore Shawn's Amish roots and how that community deals with death and dying. And Christiana shares what her friends and family think about her strange obsession.

To find out more about Christiana and her work, you can visit her HERE.

A little over a year ago, Leslie Bustard received a cancer diagnosis--Stage 2 breast cancer and Stage 4 melanoma. The side effects of immunotherapy have been harsh, the entire journey a roller coaster. And yet in the midst of it, life is beautiful, and she has discovered something new about herself: she is a poet. Today we talk with Leslie about finding beauty in the midst of difficult days.

Shawn speaks with poet Antoinette Brim-Bell about trying new things (she's a professor but also taking a playwriting class), why she's waited to write about race (until now), and the difference between simply taking up space and being worthy of the space we've been given.

You can find out more about Antoinette at her website.

Antoinette's book, These Women You Gave Me.

Jen Fulwiler is a renaissance woman: she has six children, she's an author, she once had her own radio show, she runs one of the most popular podcasts on the Internet, and she has even recently created her own stand-up comedy special now airing on the major streaming platforms. But today she talks with us about what it's like to bomb on the stage and why risk-taking is so crucial when it comes to creativity.

For everything Jen is up to, including her comedy special, you can head HERE.

Shawn and Maile talk about the Great January experiment--what it was, how their kids reacted to the idea, and the results they saw. They also revisit the idea of setting expectations, goals, and dreams, and then making sure your life is aligned with the direction you'd like to be heading.

Interested in their new course, The Nine Month Novel? Check it out HERE.

Kate Motaung's wonderful community, Five Minute Friday

And the first episode we discussed expectations, goals, and dreams: What Do You Want?

"At the beginning of the year I felt like everyone else was moving somewhere, and I was stuck." Beth Stedman joins us today to talk about rejection, choosing to write no matter the results, escapist literature, and the role creativity has played during the last ten years as her husband has continued his cancer journey.

Also, check out the two episodes when Maile and Shawn were each guests over at Beth's podcast, Fable and the Verbivore. Maile's episode is HERE, and Shawn's is HERE.

Maile and I talk about what we're currently writing and then get rather excited as we describe this new journey we're inviting you to join us on.

Music by Lucy Leigh.

Last fall, our good friend and fellow creative Janelle Stoltzfus discovered that she had breast cancer. Weeks later, soon after her lumpectomy, she received the news that her mother had a brain tumor, a glioblastoma, and had weeks to live. Today, we hear her story and, as always, try to discover the role that creativity might play in these difficult days.

Visit Janelle's beautiful creation, Millstream Homes.

Maile reads the poem "Breathing Underwater" by Carol Bieleck.

Shawn reads from the book The Reed of God, by Carol Houselander.

Jamie Harrison joins us today to talk about all kinds of interesting things, like how reliable she thinks her childhood memories are, what her process is in writing mystery novels, and what it was like growing up the daughter of writer Jim Harrison (author of Legends of the Fall).

A talented writer and a kind guest, Jamie brings us along on her writing journey. I know you'll enjoy this one.

Jamie Harrison's new book, The Center of Everything.

An interview with Jamie over at Literary Hub.

Memoirist Cassandra Lane joins us today to talk about her growing up years and how the knowledge that her great-grandfather was lynched led to the writing of her first book, We Are Bridges...a book she journeyed with for 20 years before it's upcoming release in April, 2021. It's a book everyone needs to put on their to-read list.

You can find Cassandra and her writing HERE.

Preorder We Are Bridges HERE.