Writers on Writing

Poet Michael Miller joins Marrie Stone for an hour of poetry and reflection on New Year's morning. He talks about his retrospective collection, Tea and Subtitles: Selected Poems 1999-2019, many addressing beginnings, endings, and New Year's Day itself. Michael discusses his life-long love of the form, how journalism aids his poetry, assembling the writer's toolbox, and the many poets who he recommends as accessible and necessary reads. Michael will appear at the LA Times Festival of Books on the poetry stage in April. Download audio.   (Broadcast date: January 1, 2020)

Stephen Dunn, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about his latest volume, Pagan Virtues. (There are a few audio challenges, but keep listening. It's worth it.) Download audio. (Broadcast date: Dec. 4, 2019)

Louis L'Amour, father of the western and frontier novel, passed in 1988 leaving behind 89 novels, 14 short story collections, and mounds of unfinished manuscripts. His son, Beau L'Amour, continues his legacy by finishing many of his novels and short stories and adding notes, history, and backstory. He shares his latest, Lost Treasures Volume II, as well as his father's writing process, his relationship with Ray Bradbury, and more. Robin Cook, father of the medical thriller genre, joins in the second half to share his latest novel, Genesis. During his time in the navy, and after completing his medical training, Robin came on the writing scene in the 1970s with the novel Coma. Now, 35 novels later, he still thrills readers with his uncanny sense of where medical technology is heading, the radical advances and attendant consequences we're making, and how his longstanding and beloved characters deal with them. Download audio.  (Broadcast date: December 18, 2019)

Tim O'Brien, National Book Award winning novelist and iconic author of The Things They Carried, joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest—and last—book. Dad's Maybe Book is at once a memoir, a love letter to his young sons, a meditation on war, a writing guide for writers, a history lesson, a literature lesson, and swan song to his fans. (Don't let the title or cover fool you . . . this book packs a meaty punch that extends well beyond fatherhood). Tim shares his enduring struggles with writing, with memory, and with his own father. Download audio. (Broadcast date: December 11, 2019)

Christopher Ketcham, author of the new nonfiction book, This Land: How Cowboys, Corruption, and Corruption are ruining the American West, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett for the entire hour about the book that Outside magazines says, "...brings the fighting spirit and conservation vision of great writers like Edward Abbey, Rachel Carson, and Bernard DeVoto into the 21st century.”  Download audio. (KUCI-FM broadcast date: Nov. 27, 2019) You can reach Barbara at penonfire at earthlink dot net. Subscribe to the Writers on Writing podcast at iTunes and Stitcher.

Novelist Jeanne Blasberg joins Marrie Stone for the full hour to discuss her latest, The Nine. She shares how her work in finance and spreadsheets aids her writing, about Grub Street's Novel Generator, NaNoWriMo, the unique opportunities afforded by She Writes Press, finding your unique niche as writer, and much more. Download audio.  (Broadcast date: November 20, 2019)

Cathleen Schine, author of The Grammarians and 10 other novels, joins Marrie Stone for the full hour to talk about creativity, how writing grows harder over time, her love of words and language and dictionaries, why she felt inspired by the relationship between Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, and so much more. Download audio. (Broadcast date: November 13, 2019)

Tom Perrotta, author of Mrs. Fletcher, joins Marrie for the entire hour to talk about sex in the new millennium, whether technology can affect desire, how male writers can effectively access the female point of view, writing through the various stages of life, humor, and much more. Download audio. (Broadcast date: October 11, 2017) DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed on this program do not reflect those of KUCI, its management, or the UC Board of Regents. For more information on this talk show, or other talk shows, visit our website at www.kuci.org. 

Novelist Aris Janigian joins Marrie Stone to talk about the latest novel in his "Waiting" trilogy, Waiting for Sophia at Shutters by the Beach. A challenging and thought-provoking novel about the #metoo movement and sexual harassment on college campuses, Aris discusses the many trials and difficulties he encountered while writing it (including a stolen manuscript). He also talks about being the author of six novels (and spending significant time on the LA Times bestseller list), all without an agent. Aris will be appearing at Book Soup in December to launch the book. More information about the event can be found online as the date approaches. In the second half, Robert Kerbeck joins to discuss Malibu Burning: The Real Story Behind LA's Most Devastating Wildfire. Robert and his wife successfully saved their home from the Woolsey fire last year. Their neighbors were not so lucky. Robert conducted extensive interviews and organized the book as a series of compelling vignettes, highlighting the many tragic, shocking, and poignant stories that emerged from this devastating fire. He shares insights about what homeowners can do to be prepared, and the surprising aftermath of the fire's destruction. Check out Robert's website for information about his many appearances scheduled in and around Los Angeles.  Download audio. (Broadcast date: October 30, 2019)

I knew Kate a few ways: through my show where she was a guest three times. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where she sat on my panel. And a writing project for which she generously wrote an essay on spec (not yet unpublished). She wrote one of my favorite short stories: "Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta." It's in the fantastic collection, Squandering the Blue, as well as widely anthologized and googleable. Here are the shows:   Martin J. Smith, co-author of Oops : 20 Life Lessons from the Fiascoes That Shaped America, and Kate Braverman, author of Frantic Transmissions to and from Los Angeles. Download audio. The show begins at 24:30. (Broadcast date: Mar. 16 2006) Kate Braverman, author of The Incantation of Frida K. (This one you have to click on her name to access audio.) (Broadcast date: May 22, 2003) Kate Braverman, author of Lithium for Medea. Download audio. (Broadcast date: Sep 18, 2002)