Memoirist Glen Retief

As we reconstruct our podcasts that disappeared due to who knows what, here's an interview I very much enjoyed with memoirist Glen Retief, author of The Jack Bank: A Memoir of a South African Childhood.

  Download audio.
  (Broadcast date: July 20, 2011)

Chris Van Allsburg and Erin Morgenstern

Marrie Stone interviews Chris Van Allsburg, author of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, and Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: Oct 5, 2011)

Lyanda Lynn Haupt and lit agent Kelly Sonnack

Here's my interview with Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Crow Nation and literary agent Kelly Sonnack with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Download audio.
Enjoy!


 (Broadcast date: 1/11/12)

Podcast Problems

As many of you have discovered, we've been having problems with our Writers on Writing podcasts. Unfortunately, our server lost hundreds of our shows. On the plus side, we have copies of everything and we're in the process of restoring them, one by one, back to the server.

If there's an episode you particularly miss or one that you're looking for, write to us. We can move it to the head of our restoration process. In the meantime, please bear with us as we keep working. It's a long process!

Thanks so much for your loyalty and listenership, and for bearing with us while we fix the problems.

A reading at Laguna Beach Books

Join my students and me for a reading this afternoon (Sunday, Jan. 22) at Laguna Beach Books. Free food, drink, great company. 4 p.m. More here.

R.I.P ETTA JAMES

Etta James, whose song, "I'd Rather Go Blind," we close with at the end of each radio show, died yesterday at the age of 73. Brian's band the Three Blind Mice opened for her at the Coach House, in San Juan Capistrano, ten years ago. It was her birthday and he ate birthday cake with her, in her dressing room. RIP, Etta.....Love your music, always.

Pen on Fire Writers Salon with T. Jefferson Parker

On January 17, 2012, the Pen on Fire Writers Salon hosted T. Jefferson Parker at Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar. Jeff talked about his new novel, The Jaguar.  We had a full house and sold out/waiting list event with one of the most magnanimous writers ever. Visit his webpage to learn of his events and attend one. You'll be one happy writer for having done so.

Debbie Mitsch's bookstore, Mystery Ink, in Huntington Beach, supplied the books.

Barb, Deb & C.J. 

All photos by C.J. Bahnsen, except for the last, taken by Travis Barrett

David Vann, Ellen Bell, Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Marrie Stone interviews David Vann, author of Last Day on Earth: A Portrait of the NIU School Shooter; Ellen Bell, author of Irvine (Images of America); and Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, co-authors of The Future of Us.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: November 19, 2011)

Lyanda Lynn Haupt and lit agent Kelly Sonnack

On this morning's show, my guests will be Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness (Little Brown) and Kelly Sonnack, a literary agent with the Andrea Brown Agency. Tune in at 9 am PT at KUCI-FM 88.9. If you can't pick up the signal, listen at kuci.org or at iTunes college radio.

Also, if you've been trying to listen to the podcasts and can't, we're working on it!