Word Carver

Deeply rooted in place, Sycamore Poems follows two conversations as filigree-fine as cloisonne beads: one with the long-lived sycamores of Ohio, and the other about the loss of love. Kathy Fagan, Director of the Creative Writing MFA at Ohio State University, speaks of place, art, and the construction of her poems with Word Carver host Cynthia Rosi.

Excellent professors like Dinty W. Moore teach at three levels: at Ohio University he lectures to undergraduates and graduate students, including mentoring PhD students in Creative Writing, and at summer workshops he works with adults in their 40s or older. It was for this audience that he conceived The Story Cure: A Book Doctor's Pain-Free Guide to Finishing Your Novel or Memoir.

Listen to Moore as he discusses with show host Cynthia Rosi how to stay engaged with your narrative, to find its heart, and to keep working in the face of difficult writing days.

Maggie Smith's lasting and resonant poems live up to the wide popularity of the title piece "Good Bones." Smith discusses living in the place where she grew up, the influence of crankies -- traditional storytelling with shadow puppets which pre-dated movies -- on one of the narrative themes, and handling emotionally hot material, with Word Carver host Cynthia Rosi. For links to Smith's volume visit wordcarver.com.

Columnist Pat Snyder Hurley talks with show host Cynthia Rosi about her forthcoming book of poetry from Night Ballet Press entitled Hard to Swallow, co-written with her husband Bill Hurley. The pair embarked on the poetic journey when Bill was diagnosed with cancer, and it formed a central part of their mindfulness work during that difficult time. After the interview, Amy Dalrymple visits the Global Gallery and the Peripatetic Poets and broadcasts a reading by Jane Varley.

Music by Seastock on Jamendo, "Rise and Shine."

Paging Columbus founder Hannah Stephenson speaks with Word Carver reporter Amy Dalrymple at the OSU Urban Art Space. Paging Columbus moves to the new $2 Radio location on Parson's Avenue in November. Slam poet champ Barbara Fant reads two stunning pieces. Amy explores the whimsy and wonder of words at amydalrymple.net

How many of you feel this alienation and discomfort almost as soon as you open the screen in your cellphone, dip into social media, answer email, or listen to the news? The sages from India called illusion maya and they pray: "from delusion lead me to truth."

Literature helps us to deal with a society awash in illusion. Calvino points us toward precision, logic, and detail as one answer. Coates asks readers to examine American society with exacting truth. Rushdie's readers find truth through fictions in which we find wisdom and compassion for the people we inhabit for the duration of the tale.

Minnecojou Lakota poet Trevino Brings Plenty discusses two poems from his volume Ghost River, as well as Native culture, writing, and the protests at Standing Rock. You can buy Wakpa Wanagi, Ghost River, on Amazon or order it through your local bookstore. Music by Rise and Shine (2015), Seastock from Jamendo.com. Artwork from an unsigned mural in Detroit.

Linda Kass, owner of Gramercy Books in Bexley, talks about her journey into creating a bookstore which offers a vibrant space for authors and artists, as well as a children's area and inviting Kittie's coffee shop to be a (very close) neighbor. Behind-the-scenes information on researching a successful bookstore as well as Kass' favorite books and a list of upcoming events. Music by Rise and Shine (2015), Seastock from Jamendo.com.

Nita Sweeney writes the blog Bum Glue and puts out Write Now Newsletter a comprehensive listing of writer and reader events in central Ohio, through her writer website www.nitasweeney.com. She's also a student of Natalie Goldberg, and teaches Goldberg's work in Upper Arlington. Word Carver host Cynthia Rosi talks with Sweeney about using Goldberg's technique of timed writings to create a memoir, and about the changing writer's scene here in Columbus. Music credit: Rise and Shine (2015) by Seastock on Jamendo.com.

Nick White talks about ex-gay ministry and gay conversion therapy in light of his first novel How to Survive a Summer with show host Cynthia Rosi, as well as problems of craft and construction. Music credit: Rise and Shine (2015) by Seastock on Jamendo.com.