The Write Question

Richard Fifield is a master storyteller and fierce defender of arts in Montana. In addition to being a novelist, he designs spaces for underrepresented voices to be heard. For silence to be broken. In this conversation, Richard describes his process for writing his latest young adult novel, The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton, a book which explodes the genre with a “rural approach that’s not condescending.” Pulling from his own life of growing up gay in small-town Montana, Richard’s messages

Recently named one of the Best Undiscovered Comedians in America by Thrillist, Sarah Aswell is another Montana gem. Her brand of humor seamlessly blends disarming authenticity and searing social commentary. As a community member, Sarah strives to make comedy accessible and inclusive by running workshops for women and non-binary folks and supporting the representation of historically marginalized groups on stage. In this interview, Sarah explains her comedic philosophy, in addition to sharing

"Mickelson adds to the ever-more-robust American tradition of queering the wild and natural world. . . Here is a book worthy of every stolen and cherished encounter." -- Keetje Kuipers, author of All Its Charms

Matthew Haynes is a multi-genre writer, professor, and coffee shop owner in his hometown of Butte, America. His work scours the human experience, interrogating loss, ambivalence, and difficult choices, all with a needlepoint specificity. In this interview, Matthew speaks to absence, the lure of Hawaii, and his own version of paradise.

Set in the heart of Tanzania’s Maasailand, Among the Maasai champions women’s education in the developing world while unflinchingly addressing the challenges and inconsistencies inherent in tackling issues of extreme poverty across vastly different cultures.

Nisbet’s most recent project, The Dreamer and the Doctor , traces the unlikely adventures of late 19th-century plant lover John Leiberg and his physician wife Carrie around the Intermountain West and beyond. Idaho author Kim Barnes says that “Jack Nisbet continues to educate, entertain, and mesmerize with this meticulously written and researched story of two people-of-destiny whose intelligence and passion transformed our awareness and understanding of the Northwest.”

Jonathan Fetter-Vorm is a rarity in Montana. A former craftsman turned graphic novelist, Fetter-Vorm succeeds at both the written word and visual art. With stunning depth and attention to the nuances behind spaceflight, Fetter-Vorm takes on Apollo 11 in “Moonbound.” This conversation covers Fetter-Vorm’s own relationship to space, as well as the process of writing, revision, and the amazing discoveries made while researching for the book. Join us for a unique behind-the-scenes look at an artist

100 Days is a collection of poems that ask us to consider the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. In 100 poems, written in 100 days during the summer of 2014, Okot Bitek grapples with how language, nature, music, memory and voice can betray, and still offer solace in poetic form.

Lehua Taitano's work investigates queer indigeneity, decolonization, and cultural identity in the context of diaspora. In this conversation, Lehua delves into the oceanic world of her poetry collection, "Inside Me an Island," where matters of family, story, identity, voice, song, and bicycle mechanics come to light.

Sophia Shalmiyev wields her intellect and insight during a conversation about her lyrical, heart-breaking memoir, “Mother Winter.” Both the book and the conversation are a collection of Shalmiyev’s influences, from traumatic moments of her early years in Leningrad to the inspiring Riot Grrrl feminist movement. Shalmiyev speaks with authority and passion about mother loss, inviting listeners into a kaleidoscopic take on the immigrant narrative while offering possibilities for a more just future.