The Stories Between Us

The Stories Between Us

By Shawn SmuckerArtsBooksLeisureHobbies
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The Stories Between Us episodes

  • Writing as a "Revolutionary Patience": Our Thoughts on Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird
    Shawn talks about his favorite book on writing and how it first came into his possession. Maile talks about, in Anne Lamott's words, at first believing minor repairs are needed on her novel, looking out the window, and realizing that actually the wrecking ball had arrived.
    They both discuss how, at the end of the day, the actual creating is the thing--not the publishing or the reviews or the awards. Not the rejection or the critics or the disappointments. The writing is what we always come back to.
    21 min
  • 029 Mitali Perkins: Why We Keep Creating

    If you listened to the previous episode, you know that Maile has been struggling with discouragement--this episode, which was actually recorded a few months ago, is the perfect follow up. Mitali Perkins offers the perfect encouragement, the perfect answer to, "Why keep writing?"

    Mitali (mitaliperkins.com) has written many books for young readers, including Between Us and Abuela (2020 Charlotte Huck Honor Book), Forward Me Back To You (SLJ and Kirkus Best YA Books of 2019), You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for a National Book Award, six starred reviews), and Rickshaw Girl (adapted into a film by Sleeperwave Productions), all of which explore crossing different kinds of borders.

    40 min
  • Mitali Perkins: Why We Keep Creating
    If you listened to the previous episode, you know that Maile has been struggling with why to keep writing--this episode, which was actually recorded a few months ago, is the perfect follow up. Mitali Perkins offers the perfect encouragement, the perfect answer to "Why keep writing?"
    Mitali is the author of many books, including Between Us and Abuela, Forward Me Back To You, and You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for a National Book Award).
    40 min
  • 028 In Which Maile Gets Really, Really Honest

    "If I'm honest, I feel like...okay, now we're going to get really deep. Are we ready for this? I feel like the clock is ticking for me."

    Today Maile and Shawn talk about the gut-wrenching part of creativity (rejection), the problem with tying your success to things you have no control over, and what to do when the discouragement seems like too much.

    29 min
  • In Which Maile Gets Really, Really Honest
    "If I'm honest, I feel like...okay, now we're going to get really deep. Are we ready for this? I feel like the clock is ticking for me."
    Today Maile and Shawn talk about the gut-wrenching part of creativity (rejection), the problem with tying your success to things you have no control over, and what to do when the discouragement seems like too much.
    29 min
  • 027 Lore Ferguson Wilbert - On Letting the Work Do Its Work in Us

    Maile and I have the distinct privilege of speaking with Lore Ferguson Wilbert, writer and author of the new book on touch, Handle With Care. We explore why Lore, for many years, was hesitant to write a book, why she changed her mind, and what work the work can do in us. Lore also, interestingly enough, shares her thoughts on touch during a time when we are being asked to stay far apart from each other. It's a particularly poignant conversation, given our current circumstances.

    29 min
  • Lore Ferguson Wilbert - On Letting the Work Do Its Work in Us
    Maile and I have the distinct privilege of speaking with Lore Ferguson Wilbert, writer and author of the new book on touch, Handle With Care. We explore why Lore, for many years, was hesitant to write a book, why she changed her mind, and what work the work can do in us. Lore also, interestingly enough, shares her thoughts on touch during a time when we are being asked to stay far apart from each other. It's a particularly poignant conversation, given our current circumstances.
    29 min
  • 026 Your Chance to Press Reset on Life

    What if this time of silence and uncertainty is actually an opportunity to reset your life, to strategically realign your priorities to better serve you? Maile and I talk about how this quiet time, this time of doing nothing, going nowhere, has us questioning everything. We talk about preparing for a "return to normal," but we also hope we have the strength and wisdom to make some serious changes.

    Join us as we discuss pressing reset on our lives.

    Article discussed: "Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting"

    20 min
  • Your Chance to Press Reset on Life
    What if this time of silence and uncertainty is actually an opportunity to reset your life, to strategically realign your priorities to better serve you? Maile and I talk about how this quiet time, this time of doing nothing, going nowhere, has us questioning everything. We talk about preparing for a "return to normal," but we also hope we have the strength and wisdom to make some serious changes. 
    Join us as we discuss pressing reset on our lives.
    20 min
  • 025 Headlight Living During a Pandemic

    "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights but you can make the entire trip that way." E.L. Doctorow

    We think living is a lot like that, too, especially in these uncertain days. So we talk about how our life fell apart in 2009, ten years ago, what it was like to see only as far as our headlights, and we try to encourage those of you who feel like your life has disintegrated in this most recent wave of uncertainty. We're all in this together.

    21 min

About The Stories Between Us

From the publisher's feed

Two writers, Shawn Smucker and Maile Silva, married to each other, explore the highs and lows of creativity, publishing, and the writing life.