Actor, audiobook narrator, and writer Jorjeana Marie joins me to talk about Improv for Writers. In the second half, novelist Helen Phillips comes on to talk about The Need, published by Simon and Schuster. Phillips discusses “emotional” revision while Marie talks about how improv is a tool writers can employ for everything from getting past the blank page to figuring out plot and structure.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 11, 2019)

T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Last Good Guy, and Sigrid Nunez, author of Mitz: The Marmoset of Bloomsbury, join me to discuss the art, craft, and business of writing on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM, 88.9 fm.

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(Broadcast date: August 28, 2019)

Archive: writersonwriting.blogspot.com

Memoirists Liz Scott, author of This Never Happened, and Sands Hall, author of Flunk. Start.: Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology, talk with me about their memoirs.

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(Broadcast date: August 7, 2019)

Novelist Janet Fitch, author of Chimes of a Lost Cathedral, joins me to talk about her new novel published by Little Brown.

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(Broadcast date: July 31, 2019)

New York City literary agent Mark Gottlieb joins me for the entire hour to talk about what he looks for in a client, the attraction–and danger–of trends, and so much else about publishing.

Here’s his bio:

Mark Gottlieb is a literary agent at Trident Media Group in New York City. He ranks highly among literary agents in overall deals and other categories. With that insight and initiative, Mark Gottlieb is actively building his client list of new authors. He manages and grows author careers at publishing’s leading agency. One of his core values is helping writers realize their book publishing dreams. Since his time at Trident Media Group, he has represented New York Times bestselling, as well as award-winning authors. He has also optioned and sold books to film and TV companies. He previously ran Trident Media Group’s Audiobook Department and before that worked in Foreign Rights. Prior to that he served as Executive Assistant to the literary agency’s Chairman. Agent Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories. He is looking forward to bringing new authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

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(Broadcast date: July 17, 2019)

Shawn Levy, author of The Castle on Sunset:Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont, joins Barbara to talk about his new nonfiction book. The only guest for the entire hour, they discuss “gathering string,” doing research, writing and revising.

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(Broadcast date: July 3, 2019)