Patricia Hampl Discusses Regionalism
Patricia Hampl discusses regionalism with participants of the International Writing Program. Hampl defines what regionalism means to her and presents her own definition of the term. Hampl speculates that Midwesterners feel a lack of regional identity, and she explores what it might mean to be a Midwesterner. Hampl reads her favorite passage from The Great Gatsby. She takes questions from the audience at the end.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Fiction
Authors: Patricia Hampl
Date Recorded: October 05, 2006
Program: --
Format: lecture
Contributors: David Hamilton
Topics: Minnesota; Grant Wood; Garrison Keillor; Johnny Carson
Note: Year is unknown. Recorded October 5. The tape ends before the discussion is over.
Michael Gartner Reading
Michael Gartner reads from and discusses his book, Outrage, Passion, and Common Sense. Gartner, who himself won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, discusses the great newspaper editors and editorials of the age. Gartner claims that, although times have changed, many of the issues that garner editorials are still the same; he cites Horace Greeley’s editorial from the 1850’s addressing religion in public schools as an example.
Gartner goes on to outline the careers of the men he considers to be the top four editors of all time: Horace Greeley, Henry Watterson, William Allen White, and Vermont Connecticut Royster. He also details a few of the most “eloquent” editorials ever written, including editorials concerning the American Civil and Vietnam Wars, the Dred Scott Decision, and various presidential elections.
During a question and answer period, Gartner considers the quality of contemporary editorials, claiming that “I think the supply of great editorials is dwindling.” He cites the current trend toward chain ownership of newspapers as the main cause for the lower quality of today’s editorials. Gartner goes on to discuss the best piece of advice concerning editorial writing that he has ever received: “Give the other side the space, and your side the thought.” Gartner closes by describing his experience winning the Pulitzer Prize.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Journalism
Authors: Michael Gartner
Date Recorded: December 05, 2005
Works Read: Outrage, Passion, and Uncommon Sense: How Editorial Writers Have Taken on the Great American Issues of the Past 150 Years, by Michael Gartner
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: journalism, editorials, Horace Greeley, Henry Watterson, William Allen White, Vermont Connecticut Royster
David Albahari Reading
David Albahari reads from his book, Götz and Meyer. He begins by discussing his time spent in the International Writing Program in 1986, and how those experiences have informed his writing since. Albahari goes on to explain that all of his novels are written in one long paragraph, joking that perhaps the cause is that the ‘enter’ key on his keyboard doesn’t work. He claims that this style serves as a long labyrinth, where the only way out is through the end of the book.
During a question and answer session, Albahari gives a brief historical background of his novel. The tale follows the lives of Götz and Meyer, two SS soldiers during WWII that were stationed at a concentration camp in Belgrade. Albahari points out that his impetus for writing the work was to sort through in his mind how these “normal people” could commit such atrocities. Albahari explains his research that was performed at the Jewish Historical Museum in Belgrade, and how that research led him to meet the daughter of the man who had sanctioned the mass killings in Belgrade.
Albahari ends by discussing his writing process, explaining that although he currently lives in Canada, he still writes his novels in Serbian. He explains that he had previously attempted to write his novels in English originally, but found that it interrupted his writing flow.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: David Albahari
Date Recorded: December 01, 2005
Works Read: Götz and Meyer, by David Albahari
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Holocaust, Serbia, writing styles, historical research
Deborah Noyes Reading
Deborah Noyes reads from her novel, Angel and Apostle, intended as a “revisionist’s look” at Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Noyes explains her decision to write a sequel to The Scarlet Letter, claiming that “writers are thieves at heart, like crows collecting shiny bits for our nests; we take inspiration wherever we can.” She explains that she always held a certain fascination with the character of Pearl, and wanted to explore Pearl’s story further.
During a question and answer session, Noyes discusses the difficulty of writing the novel from a first person point of view while referencing Hawthorne’s language and writing style. She goes on to discuss her exploration of Pearl’s character as an outcast, and her subsequent ability to exist outside of social constraints. Noyes also points out that, unlike in Hawthorne’s novel, the character of Hester Prynne is much more in charge of her life on an emotional level in Noyes’ interpretation of the story.
Noyes discusses her passion for Gothic storytelling, mentioning a compilation of Gothic Stories for young adult readers that she had previously edited. She points out that her role as a reader ultimately informs her role as a writer, claiming that “it’s the accumulation of your reading history that creates your voice.”
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Deborah Noyes
Date Recorded: November 30, 2005
Works Read: Angel and Apostle, by Deborah Noyes
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, historical fiction
Meredith Broussard reading
Editor Meredith Broussard reads from her book, The Encyclopedia of Exes: Twenty-Six Stories by Men of Love Gone Wrong, a collection of fictional stories by male writers that explore love and relationships from the male perspective. She begins by reading the forward of the book which relates how she became interested in collecting stories about relationships. Author Lee Klein, at the time a student at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, reads a story by Jonathan Ames as well as his own piece from the collection.
Broussard compares her impressions of the stories in this book, all authored by men, with the stories she collected for her previous work, The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: Twenty-Six Tales of Love Gone Wrong, all authored by women, and reflects on gender differences. She discusses how she tried to choose authors for this collection that would be a counterpoint to the authors in The Dictionary of Failed Relationships. She also discusses her personal relationships and a new project, a memoir of her parents. Finally, Lee Klein talks about his experience in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the process of being edited by Meredith Broussard.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive
Authors: Meredith Broussard , Lee Klein
Date Recorded: November 29, 2005
Works Read: forward, Sealed-off by Jonathon Ames, Last by Richard Rushfield, Nightlife by Lee Klein
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Julie Englander
Topics: love, relationships, gender
Faith Sullivan Reading
Faith Sullivan reads from her novel entitled Gardenias, a sequel to her previous novel, Cape Ann. She begins by reading a poem by a fellow southern Minnesotan poet, Phoebe Hanson. Sullivan goes on to provide a brief synopsis of her novel: two women and a small daughter leave Minnesota to secure jobs in California during the Great Depression.
During a question and answer session, Sullivan acknowledges the women’s issues and feminist undertones that permeate the novel. She discusses the roles of women during the Great Depression, and also their allowance to secure employment outside the home during World War II. Sullivan claims that “this was a mass empowerment of women that has never been seen before in the history of our country”, and thus served as a foundation for the Feminist Movement. Sullivan also discusses the issue of violence against women and the utter lack of social services for women during the time that the novel is set.
Sullivan ends by discussing her writing process, and tells the story of the inception of Cape Ann. Sullivan had approached her husband, who is also a writer, with the idea for a novel, with the hopes that he would pen the story himself. When it became apparent that he was not interested in the story, Sullivan decided to write the story herself.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Faith Sullivan
Date Recorded: November 28, 2005
Works Read: Gardenias, by Faith Sullivan "My Father Mows the Grass," by Phoebe Hanson
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Great Depression, World War II, Minnesota, California, feminism
Jeremy Mercer Reading
Jeremy Mercer reads from and discusses his memoir, Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co.. He goes on to detail the events that led up to his arrival at the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore in Paris, France. Mercer had previously worked as a crime reporter in Ottowa, Canada, and was forced to flee from a criminal that had threatened his life.
Mercer goes on to describe the colorful life of George, the bookstore’s owner. He explains how, through the years, George’s famous bookstore had become a haven for such writers as Anaïs Nin, William S. Burroughs, and Henry Miller. Mercer goes on to describe the relationship he developed with George while living at the bookstore.
In a question and answer session, Mercer explains how he was able to help George secure the fate of the bookstore. He also details the falling out between himself and the owner, pointing out that George had been unhappy with the title that the British publishers had chosen for Mercer’s book, Books, Baguettes, and Bedbugs, claiming that the title fed a longstanding rumor which George despised.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Jeremy Mercer
Date Recorded: November 21, 2005
Works Read: Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co. by Jeremy Mercer
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: crime reporting, Shakespeare & Co. bookstore,
Note: A short video is played during the discussion.
Craig Davidson reading
Canadian novelist Craig Davidson reads from his collection of eight violent, macabre, and raw short stories, Rust and Bone; his characters include gamblers, fighters, and sex addicts. Davidson admits that occasionally people walk out on his readings because his subjects can be difficult to hear. He first reads excerpts from the piece which lends its title to the collection, “Rust and Bone,” a first-person story about a boxer losing his first “smoker,” an illegal bar fight. He also reads from “A Mean Utility” about a couple who breed and fight dogs, partly as a way to displace frustration with their own infertility. At the time of the reading, Davidson is a student at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
In the question and answer session, Davidson discusses why he is drawn to unsavory characters and difficult subjects like dog fighting. He also writes horror fiction under the pseudonym Patrick Lestewka and he explains why and how he chose a penname. He also talks about his experience at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Canadian writers he enjoys, and why he feels his work is “Un-Canadian.” He discusses his regimented approach to writing and his relationship with his characters. He then shares what he learned from researching pornography for “Friction,” a story about a sex addict. When asked if he thinks he ever pushes his work too far, Davidson explains that he does not censor himself while he writes nor apologize for what he’s written, but sometimes his stories are difficult to publish. Finally, he discusses the final, less graphic story in the collection, “The Apprentices Guide to Modern Fiction” about a magician who abandons his children. He blogs about his work and his life at www.penguinblogs.ca/davidson.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive
Authors: Craig Davidson
Date Recorded: November 17, 2005
Works Read: “Rust and Bone,” "A Mean Utility"
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Julie Englander
Topics: boxing, dog-fighting, Canadian fiction, violence
Poets Against the War Reading
This reading was organized in conjunction with the national grassroots movement, Poets Against the War (www.poetsagainstthewar.org), and features poets associated with the Writers’ Workshop and the International Writing Program.
Marvin Bell introduces the reading, and then Kiki Petrosino speaks briefly about the spirit and purpose of the reading. Poets Marvin Bell, James Galvin, David Hamilton, John Mateer, James McKean, Dave Morice, Mani Rao, Mary Ruefle, Mary Swander, Jan Weissmiller, and Dean Young each read a selection of poems.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Poetry
Authors: Marvin Bell , Kiki Petrosino, David Hamilton, John Mateer, James Galvin, James McKean, Dave Morice, Mani Rao, Mary Swander, Mary Ruefle, Jan Weissmiller, Dean Young
Date Recorded: November 09, 2005
Works Read: Marvin Bell reads the following poems: "I Didn't Sleep;" "A Lesson from the Core;" and "Hard Times for Army Recruiters."
James Galvin reads the following poems: "Nike;" and "What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up."
David Hamilton reads two poems by Margaret Gibson: "Fuel;"and "Moment." He reads an excerpt from the August, 1804 journal of Lewis and Clark, then reads a poem of his own, "Someone."
John Mateer reads the following poems: "The Bombing;"and "One Year."
James McKean reads an excerpt of Robert Lowell's "Near the Ocean," and a poem of his own, "Policy." He reads the last stanza of W.H. Auden's poem "September 1, 1939."
Dave Morice sings "Deep in the Heart of Bagdhad."
Mani Rao performs two songs. The first song is untitled, but the first line is "Protect me from myself." The second song is titled "Bush."
Mary Ruefle reads a poems that begins with the line, "War engenders violence." She reads John Berryman's "Snowline," and Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Binsey Poplars," and Walt Whitman's "Look Down, Fair Moon."
Mary Swander reads from her book, Crazy Eddy on the Judgement Day.
Jan Weissmiller reads "Eye on Apocalypse;" and "Tribute." She reads Emily Dickinson's "My Life Had Stood - a Loaded Gun."
Dean Young reads "Primitive Mentor." He reads the last stanza of Kenneth Koch's "The Pleasures of Peace."
Program: --
Format: reading
Contributors: Marvin Bell and Kiki Petrosino introduce the reading.
Topics: September 11, 2001; the war in Iraq; the Vietnam War; military draft; (George W.) Bush administration; 2004 Tsunami; Oklahoma City bombing; the War in Iraq; Hurricane Katrina
Mark Blumberg Reading
Mark Blumberg discusses his work, Basic Instinct: The Genesis of Behavior. Blumberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Iowa, begins by discussing various popular culture headlines dealing with genetics and the nature vs. nurture debate. Blumberg points out that the language that is being used to discuss genetics has taken on the lingo of creationism: genes are the body’s blueprints and hold great power.
During a question and answer session, Blumberg discusses instincts that are “species specific"--instincts that have played a direct role in the evolution of a certain species. He does go on to point out, however, that these instincts cannot be divorced from the environment of the animal--much of instinct still relies on experience. Blumberg points out that “there is no place in development where genes can be divorced from the environment, the context.”
Blumberg goes on to criticize popular psychologist Steven Pinker. He decries Pinker’s tendency to simplify actions and instincts as being gene-specific, and calls Pinker’s research “bedtime stories for adults.” Blumberg explains the importance of moving away from this “design thinking” and educate the public on the complex subtleties of genetics and instinctual behaviors. Blumberg acknowledges that Pinker’s argument is popular due to its ability to be packaged into soundbites.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Mark Blumberg
Date Recorded: November 03, 2005
Works Read: Basic Instinct: The Genesis of Behavior, by Mark S. Blumberg
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: discussion
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: human behavior, instinct, evolution, creationism, genes, Steven Pinker
Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo Reading and Discussion
Michael Ugarte, a translator of Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo’s fiction, reads an English translation of Ndongo-Bidyo’s short story, “The Dream.” Ugarte shares the circumstances of the story’s original publication in 1974 and relates the story to Spain and Equatorial New Guinea’s shared history. A prolonged question and answer session follows; Ugarte translates for Ndongo-Bidyogo. The questions of the audience and Ugarte’s English translations of Ndongo-Bidyogo’s responses are difficult to hear, but Ndongo-Bidyogo’s responses in Spanish are clearly audible.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Fiction
Authors: Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo
Date Recorded: October 28, 2005
Works Read: Michael Ugarte reads "The Dream."
Program: Shambaugh House Readings
Format: reading
Topics: Post-colonial Equatorial Guinea; translation; immigration in Spain; Franco
Note: Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo also known as Bidyogo, Donato Ndongo, and Ndongo, Donato.
Kay Redfield Jamison Reading
Kay Redfield Jamison discusses and reads from her book entitled Exuberance: the Passion for Life. Jamison points out that the state of “exuberance” is rarely studied in psychology; psychologists tend to focus their study on the more “morbid mental states.” Jamison discusses the tendency for children to exhibit exuberant qualities, pointing out that “exuberant play” is integral in the development of mammals. Jamison goes on to explain the connection between exuberance and mental disorders such as manic depression and bipolar disorder.
Jamison discusses the interviews she conducted with various “exuberant” scientists and teachers. She points out that exuberance allows individuals to pick themselves up from defeat as well as to seek out innovative ideas, both qualities that are beneficial for people working in these fields. Jamison does point out that exuberance does have its disadvantages: it causes people to be prone to error, not taken seriously, and aggravating to others. Jamison also hypothesizes why Americans in particular value exuberance as a personality trait, citing out American tendencies of “restlessness and an optimism about the future.”
During a question and answer session, Jamison discusses the gender differences in how exuberance is exhibited in humans. She does admit that men tend to exhibit more intense exuberant qualities, yet this may be due to society’s discouraging of exuberance in women starting from a young age. She goes on to point out that the physical passivity of individuals as well as lack of free time in today’s society contributes to the suppression of exuberance.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Kay Redfield Jamison
Date Recorded: October 27, 2005
Works Read: Exuberance: the Passion for Life by Kay R. Jamison
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: manic depression, bipolar disorder, creativity
Ted Kooser Reading
Ted Kooser reads various poems in honor of the release of his collection of poems entitled Delights and Shadows.
Kooser explains his tradition of annually sending postcards inscribed with a Valentine’s Day poem to wives of friends, and how he has expanded his practice to include any women that would wish to be on the list. He goes on to outline his writing process, explaining that “I might have written 40 versions of [a poem] before I got it done, but I want it to look as if I’d written it in 5 minutes, like a gesture in itself.” He explains his practice of employing an artist’s watercolor sketchbook to house all of his writings and collected articles. Kooser also relays the humorous stories of his learning of both his invitation to become the Poet Laureate of the United States, as well as winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Poetry
Authors: Ted Kooser
Date Recorded: October 25, 2005
Works Read: "Success"; "Selecting a Reader" from Sure Signs; "Tattoo" from Delights and Shadows; "A Rainy Morning"; "Student" from Delights and Shadows; "Splitting an Order"; "Weather Central" from Weather Central; "Skater" from Delights and Shadows; "At the Cancer Clinic" from Delights and Shadows; "In Passing" from Weather Central; "A Spiral Notebook" from Delights and Shadows; "Lobocraspis griseifusa" from Delights and Shadows; "The Urine Specimen"; "The Gilbert Stuart Portrait of Washington" from Weather Central; "A Box of Pastels" from Delights and Shadows; "A Deck of Pornographic Playing Cards" from Weather Central; "Etude" from Weather Central; "The Beaded Purse" from Delights and Shadows; "A Goodbye Handshake" from Weather Central; "That Was I" from Delights and Shadows; "The Hog-nosed Snake"
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introductions by host Julie Englander and Cole Swensen, poet and professor in the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Topics: poetry writing
Anna Rogoshnikova and Edi Shukriu Reading
IWP Director Christopher Merrill introduces a joint reading featuring Kazakhstani author Anna Rogozhnikova and Edi Shukriu from Kosovo. Rogoshnikova reads a selection of short fiction pieces. Shukriu reads from the first draft of her new novel, which she completed as a resident at the IWP, a selection of poems, and an excerpt from her play, The Return of Eurydice.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Dramatic Writing | Fiction
Authors: Anna Rogozhnikova , Edi Shukriu
Date Recorded: October 21, 2005
Works Read: Shukriu reads from her novel The Return of Eurydice.
Program: Shambaugh House Readings
Format: reading
Contributors: Christopher Merrill
Topics: N/A
Paul Collins Reading
Paul Collins reads from his nonfiction work, The Trouble with Tom: The Strange Afterlife and Times of Thomas Paine. Collins explains how his coming across an article within an old copy of Notes and Queries magazine influenced his decision to write a book about the stories that surrounded the exchange and search of Thomas Paine’s remains. Collins goes on to give a brief summary of the various places that Thomas Paine’s bones had traveled to, as well as the individuals who were involved in the search.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Paul Collins
Date Recorded: October 21, 2005
Works Read: The Trouble with Tom: the Strange Afterlife and Times of Thomas Paine, by Paul Collins
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Thomas Paine, historical research, travelogues, McSweeney's
Bill Thompson, Julie Zickefoose, and Donald E. Kroodsma Reading
Bill Thompson and Julie Zickefoose discuss their book entitled Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges. They explain how the book evolved from a column that Thompson edits in Iowa Bird Watching magazine, entitled “Identify Yourself.” Thompson provides a few tips for quick identification of birds, pointing out that approximately 85% of North American birds can be visually identified from the shoulder up.
Zickefoose discusses her role as illustrator of Identify Yourself, pointing out that she is a “bird painter"--a subset of “wildlife artists.” She details the considerations that have to be made when painting birds, such as how the skeleton is constructed, how they carry their weight, and how their feathers are layered. Zickefoose points out that she painted most of the illustrations in the book from museum study skins, but does admit that the Internet has become a great resource for images of birds.
Donald E. Kroodsma discusses his passion for the study of songbirds, and plays various audio tracks of bird-calls throughout his discussion. Kroodsma claims that songbirds “learn” their songs much in the same way that humans learn words, they go through a period of “babbling” before mastering their song. He points out that songbirds have two voice-boxes, each positioned at the top of each lung.
Kroodsma goes on to explain the main reason that songbirds sing: to attract a mate. He claims that, in order to get a male songbird to sing, one would only have to manipulate the hormone level of the female--they sing to females that are in a breeding stage. Kroodsma bluntly points out that the “survival of the fittest” notion definitely applies to songbirds--if a male does not have an attractive song, he will essentially fail to attract a mate.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Bill Thompson , Julie Zickefoose, Donald E. Kroodsma
Date Recorded: October 13, 2005
Works Read: Identify Yourself: the 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges by Bill Thompson, illustrated by Julie Zickefoose The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong by Donald E. Kroodsma
Program: --
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: birdwatching, wildlife illustration, birdsong, ornithology
Note: Sound recording of bird songs are played during this discussion.
John Kinsella Poetry Reading
Poet John Kinsella reads from two of his recent publications, Peripheral Light: Selected and New Poems and The New Arcadia. Kinsella describes how his experience of growing up and living in Western Australia informs each of the poems. He says that his work is deeply influenced by the landscape of Western Australia’s “wheatbelt.” Kinsella also explains that The New Arcadia is the third publication in a trilogy; The Silo and The Hunt are the other publications in the trilogy. When he has finished reading, Kinsella fields a few questions from the audience.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Poetry
Authors: John Kinsella
Date Recorded: September 23, 2005
Works Read: Kinsella reads from Peripheral Light: Selected and New Poems and The New Arcadia.
Program: Shambaugh House Readings
Format: reading
Contributors: David Hamilton
Topics: Colonization of Western Australia; salinity; pastoral poetry; Sir Philip Sydney; land rights; Nyungar tradition
Note: Interruption at 44 minutes: transfer from tape side a to side b.
Josef Haslinger, Kiki Petrosino, and Dr. Ma Thida: IWP/Writer’s Workshop Joint Reading
Josef Haslinger reads an excerpt from his short story, “The Battle for Vienna.” Writers’ Workshop student Kiki Petrosino reads a selection of poems organized, she explains, around the theme of danger. Dr. Ma Thida begins her her reading by explaining the title of her manuscript, Twenty and Twenty. She reads a few sentences of her manuscript in Burmese, and then reads a passage in English.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Fiction | Poetry
Authors: Josef Haslinger , Kiki Petrosino, Ma Thida
Date Recorded: September 11, 2005
Works Read: Haslinger reads "The Battle for Vienna." Dr. Ma Thida reads selections from Twenty and Twenty.
Program: --
Format: reading
Contributors: Christopher Merrill
Topics: World War II; Burmese history; imprisonment; reincarnation
Katherine Towler Reading
Katherine Towler reads from Evening Ferry, her second novel in a trilogy. During a question and answer session, Towler describes her childhood spent living on the grounds of the General Theological Seminary in New York, where her father was a professor. Towler explains that, during the time that she lived at the seminary, women were not allowed to be ordained. She acknowledges that faith has always been a struggle in her life, and recognizes that the concept of “faith” is a strong theme in her novels.
Towler goes on to describe her process with the writing of the trilogy, pointing out that she was so compelled to tell the story that she began the second book before the first book had ever been published. She discusses how her hobby of photography affects her writing style by allowing her to picture her novels in “scenes.”
Towler ends by explaining how her experiences at an all-male seminary and later an all-female school informed her awareness of women’s issues. She points out her belief that women’s lives have not been as fully told as men’s lives, and her conviction to bring out women’s experiences through her writing.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Katherine Towler
Date Recorded: July 27, 2005
Works Read: Evening Ferry, by Katherine Towler
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: faith, religion, publishing
Bart Yates Reading
Bart Yates reads from his second novel entitled The Brothers Bishop. During a question and answer session, Yates describes his writing process as well as his subsequent decision to write the novel in first person. He points out that, while none of his characters are based on real people, virtually all of the settings in Yates’ novels are based on actual locations.
Yates goes on do express his frustration with how books are marketed, especially his frustration with the segregation of works of “gay fiction” from general fiction. Yates points out that, although his books are about gay men, they are first and foremost about “people.”
Yates again addresses his writing process, elaborating on his tendency to draft a loose outline of a story before beginning to “flesh out” a novel. He admits that, although he used to be a disciplined writer, he has lately begun to write with a more relaxed regimen.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Bart Yates
Date Recorded: July 21, 2005
Works Read: The Brothers Bishop by Bart Yates
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by Julie Englander.
Topics: writing process, gay fiction
Elizabeth Kostova Reading
Elizabeth Kostova reads from her novel entitled The Historian. During a question and answer session, Kostova details how the topic for her novel came from the stories about Dracula that her father had told her as a child while traveling through Europe. She addresses the decision to leave the narrator in the story unnamed, claiming that the narrator is unnamed even in her own mind.
Kostova goes on to point out that she considers The Historian her “love letter to libraries”, recalling the vast amounts of time she spent in libraries as a child. She also details the research that she performed in preparation for the novel, employing translations of mostly primary sources from the Middle Ages. Kostova shares that the majority of her sources were written by Byzantine, Ottoman, and Romanian historians of the time.
Kostova gives a brief explanation of the elusive mystery regarding Vlad the Impaler’s grave, outlining the various people throughout history that have claimed to identify his remains. She points out that she is not interested in horror as a literary genre, but instead the “horror of history”, especially with regard to geopolitical issues.
Kostova ends by explaining the process of translating her novel into audio format, and the extensive editing that inevitably had to take place. She shares the anecdote that, had the audio-book been unabridged, it would have spanned 26 hours and cost $80.00.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Elizabeth Kostova
Date Recorded: July 12, 2005
Works Read: The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Vlad the Impaler/ Dracula, Middle Ages, libraries, audio-books
Lee Child Reading
Lee Child reads from his novel, One Shot: A Jack Reacher Novel. Child then explains his path to becoming a writer, which began when he was fired from his corporate job at the age of forty. His growing disappointment with the selection of detective novels led him to pursue a career within that genre.
During a question and answer session that follows, Child explains his decision to make his main character into a military man. He claims that Reacher’s military past enables him to capture the feeling of “dislocation,” especially in regard to Reacher’s transition back into civilian life.
Child goes on to explain in detail his role as a reader, claiming that “writers are first and foremost readers; we write a book a year but read hundreds of books a year.” Child claims that his preferred area of reading is nonfiction; he fears that if he read too much fiction, the style of other authors would begin to seep into his work.
Lastly, Child goes on to explain his choice to both create Jack Reacher as an American man as well as to initially publish his novels in America. Child, who is British, points out that America not only has a larger reading market, it is in fact more literate than England. He also claims that the American geography allows for him to literally broaden the setting of his novels.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Lee Child
Date Recorded: June 24, 2005
Works Read: One Shot: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: mystery novels, U.S. military, writing style, reading, American book market
W.S. Merwin Q & A
W.S. Merwin answers questions from an audience. He discusses how politics and the media can intervene in the life of an individual. Merwin also identifies poets that have influenced his work, with a specific focus on Spanish modern poets. Finally, he discusses the challenges of translating poetry, and concludes that “there is no final or good way of translating.”
In: International Writing Program Archive | Poetry | Translation
Authors: W.S. Merwin
Date Recorded: May 02, 2005
Program: --
Format: discussion
Topics: George W. Bush; Emily Dickinson; Spanish modern poetry; Pablo Neruda; Wallace Stevens; Federico Garcia Lorca; Ezra Pound; Virgil; John Ashbery; Bob Dylan; Stalin; translation of poetry; Shakespeare
Note: From the Year of the Arts and Humanities Festival Series.
Andramalech’s Monologue, performed by Hilario Saavedra
Actor Hilario Saavedra performs an intense monologue on a minimally lit, bare stage. The monologue is largely non-linear, reminiscent of post-modernist thought, and heavy with alliteration. The character of Andramalech relays stories of his childhood, wars he has endured, and crimes he has committed.
In: International Writing Program Archive | Theater
Authors: Hilario Saavedra , Valère Novarina
Date Recorded: April 30, 2005
Program: --
Format: performance
Topics: Stream of consciousness; mythology; postmodernism; alliteration; Surrealism
Jodi Picoult Reading
Jodi Picoult reads from her novel Vanishing Acts. She discusses the extensive research that went into the preparation of the novel, focusing primarily on the idea of recovered memory. She gives a brief history of the use of recovered memory as testimony within the justice system, and explains the difference between repressed and triggered memories. Picoult also explains her use of multiple first-person narrators within Vanishing Acts, pointing out that the convention allowed for a full story to be told through the partial stories of many characters.
Picoult goes on to discuss her writing process explaining that she writes the scenes within each book in order, and never initally sketches out an outline of the story. She points out that she doesn’t feel that she is a “creative writer” who constructs a tale, she is simply transcribing a story that is already taking place.
Picoult describes the complexities of selling movie rights to her books: “When you sell the rights, you’re giving the baby up for adoption. You’re not allowed to call every morning and ask, ‘What are you feeding the baby for breakfast?’ You just have to hope it’s going to a good home.” She relays the joys and trials of working with Hollywood, especially Lifetime Television, which has produced two films from her novels.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Jodi Picoult
Date Recorded: April 11, 2005
Works Read: Vanishing Acts, by Jodi Picoult
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: recovered memory, alcoholism, writing process, film adaptations
Erin Hart Reading
Erin Hart reads from her mystery novel, Lake of Sorrows. Hart gives a brief plot synopsis, explaining that the novel is set in modern day Ireland where officials have just discovered a “bog body,” believed to be around 2,000 years old. She explains that the novel is primarily about “sacrifice;” the bog has always been considered an “otherworldly place, a place of communication with the gods,” halfway between land and water.
During a question and answer session, Hart details the specific procedures involved when authorities discover a “bog body” in Ireland. She also mentions the “Treasure Trove” laws of Ireland, where any artifacts found must be turned over to the government.
Hart goes on to outline the current ecological issues with bogs, and points out that 1 in 6 acres in Ireland is a bog. The induction of Ireland into the European Union, she explains, has resulted in strict laws concerning environmental issues. Hart also recounts many hours spent traveling and performing research with her husband, who is a native of Ireland.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Erin Hart
Date Recorded: March 24, 2005
Works Read: Lake of Sorrows, by Erin Hart
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Ireland, bogs, "bog bodies", archaeology, ritual sacrifice
Marilyn Abildskov Reading
Marilyn Abildskov reads from her memoir entitled The Men in My Country. Abildskov gives a brief context of her memoir, claiming that it is about the time she spent teaching English in Japan and the three men she fell in love with while in the country. She explains her drive to write about her experiences by claiming, “Mystery is what compels a writer, not expertise.” Abildskov does admit that it took her a while to write about such intimate experiences.
Abildskov goes on to discuss the overt criticism that the memoir form has received, pointing out that many are quick to criticize “inadequate memoirs,” but the same is not true for “inadequate novels.” She explains that she felt that the memoir/personal essay form was the best way for her to portray her “interior story.”
During a question and answer session, Abildskov discusses how she was treated by Japanese men during her stay, claiming that she “found them incredibly attentive.” She does admit, however, that “if I were a Japanese-American woman, I would have told a very different story.” She goes on to discuss her previous journalism experience, claiming that she eventually left the profession when she realized that the “real stories were on the side”—not the main news items.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Marilyn Abildskov
Date Recorded: March 22, 2005
Works Read: The Men in My Country by Marilyn Abildskov
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Japan, romantic relationships, memoir, journalism
Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards Reading
Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards discuss their book entitled Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism. Baumgardner and Richards discuss their early days working together at Ms. magazine, and their eventual collaboration for their first book where they attempted to identify the meaning of feminism within a 21st century context. They explain that in Grassroots, they attempted to address the issue of activism. Baumgardner and Richards sought to “demystify” activism, to bring it away from a vague definition into more concrete suggestions for actions that would specifically apply to young individuals.
Baumgardner and Richards go on to detail their personal experiences with volunteer organizations and how these experiences helped to shape their ideas of activism. Richards discusses how her online advice column, “Ask Amy,” brought her to the realization that many people were coming to feminism not out of personal conviction, but because the feminists had the resources that they were looking for.
During a question and answer session, Baumgardner and Richards acknowledge the importance of individuals to be aware of their privilege--whether it be social, racial, or economic. They explain how this realization allows people to use their “inside access” to a group of people as an impetus for change. The women address the issue of materialism within feminism, and their belief that sacrifice within this arena should be demanded of both sexes, not just women.
Bamgardner and Richards end by discussing the documentary that Baumgardner produced, entitled “Speak Out: I Had an Abortion.” They stress the importance for women to speak out about their personal experiences, and how this reiterates that abortion is more than a political issue.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Jennifer Baumgardner , Amy Richards
Date Recorded: March 07, 2005
Works Read: Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism, by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: feminism, activism, Noam Chomsky, social class, abortion
Aimee Phan Reading
Aimee Phan reads from her collection of short stories entitled We Shall Never Meet. Phan gives a brief historical background of her stories, detailing the project “Operation Baby Lift” during the Vietnam War. “Operation Baby Lift” was the emergency evacuation of 2,600 orphans out of Vietnam a few weeks before the fall of Saigon. Phan also tells about her mother’s involvement in the project, and her subsequent work with Vietnamese foster children when she worked as a social worker in Orange County, California.
Phan explains the layout of her book: four stories are from the viewpoint of Vietnamese orphans either involved in “Operation Baby Lift” or as boat refugees, and four of the stories are from the point of view of individuals who were involved in the implementation of “Operation Baby Lift.” She points out that she chose to write a collection of short stories so she could incorporate many viewpoints of the same situation.
Phan goes on to explain her writing process, claiming that she is a “jigsaw writer"--she writes portions of paragraphs and will go back later to flesh them out. She also comments on her newfound focus on the language of her writing, pointing out that she takes care to ensure that her writing is “crisp”.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Aimee Phan
Date Recorded: March 03, 2005
Works Read: "Motherland" from We Shall Never Meet by Aimee Phan
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Vietnam War, "Operation Baby Lift", writing process,
Eleni Sikelianos Reading
Eleni Sikelianos reads a selection of prose and poetry from her two most recently-published books, The Book of Jon and The California Poem. Sikelianos fields questions from the audience. She says that place influences poetry, because language responds to landscape, comparing the aesthetics of Californian and New York poetry. Sikelianos shares how her travels have change the way she thinks about landscape. She confirms an audience member’s suggestion that The California Poem enacts some of the same poetic strategies as William Carlos Williams’ long poem, "Paterson," as well as Brenda Coultas’ A Handmade Museum. Sikelianos describes her research and writing process for The California Poem. She also shares how she came to write The Book of Jon, a memoir about her father, after his death.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Poetry
Authors: Eleni Sikelianos
Date Recorded: March 02, 2005
Works Read: Eleni Sikelianos reads the following from The Book of Jon: "Date Unknown;" "The Trip;" "Who Is Asking, Who is Interviewing;" "The Land;" "Myth, Truth;" "State Unknown;" "What I Left Out." She reads excerpts of the The California Poem.
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Julie Englander hosts the reading and introduces the author.
Topics: New York School; Walt Whitman; memoir; poetry writing
Suzanne Lebsock Reading
Suzanne Lebsock reads from her work, Murder in Virginia: Southern Justice on Trial. Lebsock, who considers herself a social historian, details the 1895 ax murder of a white woman in Lunenberg, Virginia. Lebsock explains that three black women and one man were charged with the murder, and many community members worked to ensure their safety so that they escape public lynchings and live to be tried in a court of law.
Lebsock goes on to explain that the three women were convicted of the murder and sent to a jail in Richmond. While in Richmond, the women’s situation became publicized through the local black newspaper, and enough money was raised for each woman to receive a new trial with lawyers to represent them. As a result, all three women were eventually freed.
During a question and answer session, Lebsock speculates on who she believes committed the murder, and outlines the evidence she had uncovered to support her conclusion. She explains that the sources she consulted during her research were scattered and incomplete; there had only been a transcript produced for one of the many trials of the women. Lebsock also points out that all of the accused were functionally illiterate, and subsequently did not leave behind any records of the events.
Lebsock ends by reflecting on the events from 1895, and explains that her research revealed that many people were willing to act honorably in the situation, regardless of the influence of race. While Lebsock had begun her research with the assumption that the focus would be on gender issues, she realized that ultimately the story dealt more heavily with race issues.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Nonfiction
Authors: Suzanne Lebsock
Date Recorded: February 23, 2005
Works Read: A Murder in Virginia: Southern Justice on Trial by Suzanne Lebsock
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: Virginia, race relations, lynching, historical research
Curtis Sittenfeld Reading
Iowa Writers’ Workshop alumnus Curtis Sittenfeld reads from her debut novel Prep and then answers questions from the audience and host Julie Englander for the rest of the hour. Sittenfeld shares how her experiences as a student at the Massachusetts boarding school Groton, as a teacher, and as a journalist have all contributed to the writing of this book. Sittenfeld describes what it was like to study fiction writing at the Writers’ Workshop. She also recounts the publication process for this novel.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Curtis Sittenfeld
Date Recorded: February 21, 2005
Works Read: Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Julie Englander hosts the reading and introduces the author.
Topics: boarding school; education; character development in fiction writing; class consciousness
Andrew Sean Greer Reading
Andrew Sean Greer reads from his novel entitled The Confessions of Max Tivoli. Greer explains that Max, the protagonist of the novel, grows physically younger as the years of his life pass by. Greer shares how this convention allows him to explore both romantic and family relationships at different points in Max’s life, as well as the complexities of childhood and later adulthood. Greer points out that Max’s strange ability to age in reverse is the only implausible aspect of the novel; he otherwise worked hard to create a realistic novel.
Greer discusses why he chose to set the novel at the turn of the 19th century, claiming that he thought that the story fit well with other “imaginitive” stories of the time such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He also felt that setting the book in the past would “put a little fairy dust over it”, making it seem as if there was a probability that the story could have actually taken place. Greer goes on to detail a few of the outcomes of Max’s ability to age in reverse, pointing out that Max goes through reverse puberty and as a result becomes somewhat of a eunuch.
Greer discusses the possibility of his book becoming a film, claiming that he would appreciate the financial security. On the other hand, Greer explains, “it would be great to write a totally unfilmable book, because that would mean that it’s a booky-book [sic].” Greer ends by discussing the joys of sharing a talent for fiction writing with his twin brother, Michael.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Andrew Sean Greer
Date Recorded: February 18, 2005
Works Read: The Confessions of Max Tivoli, by Andrew Sean Greer
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: 19th century, aging, writing conventions, writing process
Steve Healey and William Waltz Reading
Steve Healey reads selections from his collection of poetry entitled Earthling. Waltz then reads selections from his own collection of poetry entitled Zoo Music.
During a brief question and answer session, Waltz discusses how his interest in politics and economics feeds into his poetry. Healey discusses the joys and challenges of teaching creative writing to prison inmates in Minnesota, pointing out that the inmates deal with issues such as race and social class in their poetry. The two men go on to discuss the magazine which Waltz founded, Conduit. Both men serve as editors for Conduit, and they explain how the magazine has truly been a labor of love for many years.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Poetry
Authors: Steve Healey , William Waltz
Date Recorded: February 15, 2005
Works Read: "Shirts vs. Skins", "Small Winter", "Where Spring Is", "Interview with a Piece of Smoke", "I Do Not Know Onesies", "Airport Bowl", "Asshole of the Imminent", "Tilt"; all from Earthling by Steve Healey "A Little Blood", "Huron Slumber", "Zoo Music", "Theory of Scars", "Natural Selection Pt. 3", "Emerson in Vegas", "Runaway Vectors", "I'll Be the One Wearing Tiny White Boots", "Calculus Accumulates Among the Mightly Cuspids", "Wild Beating Heart"; all from Zoo Music by William Waltz
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introduction by host Julie Englander.
Topics: poetry, prison education, Conduit magazine