Jennifer Egan, author of Manhattan Beach, on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Pulitzer Prize winning author Jennifer Egan, author of Manhattan Beach, A Visit from the Goon Squad, and Look at Me, joins Barbara DeMarco-Barrett for the entire hour. Jennifer is a writer's writer, so generous in sharing her writing process.

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 (Broadcast date: Oct. 18, 2017)

David Williams, author of the debut novel, When the English Fall, on KUCI-FM in Irvine

David Williams, author of When the English Fall, an epistolary dystopian novel that takes place in Lancaster, PA, after a solar storm disrupts all technology, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about getting an agent and how Nanowrimo helped.

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(Broadcast date: October 4, 2017)

Nathan Englander and Alisyn Camerota on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM in Irvine

Novelist and short story writer Nathan Englander joins Marrie to talk about his latest "turducken" of a novel, Dinner at the Center of the Earth. They chat about humor, how the personal becomes universal, the benefits of writing as an ex-pat, and how to write intentional chaos.

In the second half, CNN correspondent and novelist Alisyn Camerota joins to talk about her debut, Amanda Wakes Up. She talks about writing what you know, how she did (or did not) predict the 2016 election, her thoughts on how journalism has changed, and the magic of writing 5 minutes a day.

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(Broadcast date: September 20, 2017)

Richard Polt, author of The Typewriter Revolution, on KUCI-FM 88.9 in Irvine

Richard Polt, author of The Typewriter Revolution, and Barbara DeMarco-Barrett talk about typewriters, why they're becoming popular again, and why writers should give them a chance.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 27, 2017)

Nathan Hill, Author of The Nix, on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM in Irvine, Calif.

Novelist Nathan Hill, author of The Nix, joins Marrie for the hour. They talk politics, betrayal, what we owe each other and what we don't, how history repeats itself, writing over the course of a decade, weird Amazon reviews, and much, much more.

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(Broadcast date: September 6, 2017)

Mystery author Wendy Corsi Staub on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM in Irvine, CA

Wendy Corsi Staub, mystery author with more than 75 books to her credit, talks with B. DeMarco-Barrett about writing mystery and suspense fiction, and her path to becoming a NYT bestselling author. Staub will be a keynote presenter at Ladies of Intrigue, sponsored by the Orange County chapter of Sisters in Crime, on Oct. 1, 2017. More info here.

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(Broadcast date: Sept. 13, 2017)

Novelists Don Winslow and Janelle Brown, on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Don Winslow, author of The Force, and Janelle Brown, author of Watch Me Disappear join Barbara DeMarco-Barrett to talk about their latest novels. Don talks about a writer's job and his pathway to publication, and Janelle talks about how Watch Me Disappear began as a story about a dysfunctional family and turned into a suspense novel about a mother who disappears.

Janelle will be a guest at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series & Salon's final 2017 gathering on Tues. Sept 12. Click here for more information and to register.

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 (Broadcast date: August 30, 2017)

Meghan Kenny and Michael Knight on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM in Irvine, CA

Short story writers Meghan Kenny, Love Is No Small Thing, and Michael Knight, Eveningland, join Marrie to talk about their collections.

Both writers discuss the importance of place in their fiction. They dissect a few of their most challenging stories, beginning from the original kernel of an idea through the revision process and how the final product came to be. They discuss titles, endings and beginnings. And they each share the wisdom and advice that sustains them as writers.

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(Broadcast date: August 23, 2017)

Please note that the views and opinions expressed on this podcast do not reflect those of KUCI, its management, or the UC Board of Regents. 

Memoirist Bernadette Murphy on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Bernadette Murphy, author of the memoir, Harley and Me, talks with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about the art and craft of writing the memoir, with a focus on the hybrid memoir, among other things.

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(Broadcast date: August 16, 2017)

Jonathan Dee & Shari Lapena on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Jonathan Dee joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest novel, The Locals, and its relevancy in the rise of Trump. He talks about the complications of class relations, as well as craft issues including point of view, writing challenges he sets for himself, and what that wonderful first chapter does for the rest of the novel.

In the second half, Shari Lepena talks about her new thriller, A Stranger in the House. She talks about creating suspense, how to craft a compelling thriller, the subtle psychological issues underlying the plot, and creating unreliable narrators.

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(Broadcast date: August 9, 2017)

Benjamin Ludwig and Melissa de la Cruz on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM 88.9

Benjamin Ludwig joins Marrie Stone to talk about his debut novel, Ginny Moon. Benjamin shares his personal experiences raising an adopted autistic daughter, the ways in which being immersed in this world gave birth to Ginny Moon, how to establish an effective voice of an autistic narrator, and more.

In the second half, young adult writer Melissa de la Cruz joins to talk about her novel, Alex & Eliza. She talks about writing historical fiction, managing minor characters, balancing history against the love story, writing historical dialogue and more.

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(Broadcast date: July 26, 2017)

Deborah Willis and Jardine Libaire

Short story writer Deborah Willis joins Marrie Stone to talk about her latest collection, The Dark and Other Love Stories. She deconstructs a few of her stories, from initial kernel of an idea through the revision process to completion. She talks about themes, what inspires her, opening and closing lines, titles and more.

In the second half, Jardine Libaire joins to talk about her novel, White Fur.  She discusses the sense of time and place, the charged nature of adolescence, issues of class, how to write effective sex scenes and more.

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(Broadcast date: July 19, 2017)

Novelist Maile Meloy and Agent Sarah Bowlin with Nicole Nelson

Novelist Maile Meloy, author of Do Not Become Alarmed joins Nicole Nelson to talk about what she learned about plot from having written for kids, learning to push through scenes, and how writing is a muscle that we need to work as much as possible, to improve.

In the second half of the show, literary agent Sarah Bowlin of Aevitas Creative Management talks about her switch from editor to agent, her new home as a Los Angeles-based agent with Aevitas Creative Management, and advice about querying, first pages, synopses and more.

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(Broadcast date: July 5, 2017)

Ahkil Sharma and Scott Spencer on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Ahkil Sharma, author of the short story collection, A Life of Adventure and Delight, and Scott Spencer, author of River Under the Road talk with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett about their current projects, and the art and business of writing.

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(Broadcast date: July 12, 2017)

Thrity Umrigar and Elizabeth Kostova on Writers on Writing

Novelist Thrity Umrigar, author of Everybody's Son, joins Marrie Stone to talk about issues of race, class, authority to tell another person's story, and the somewhat magical way this book came to her.

In the second half, Elizabeth Kostova joins to talk about her novel, The Shadow Land. She discusses her connection to Bulgaria, what her research revealed, why this novel has gained importance in our political climate, and more.

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(KUCI-FM broadcast date: June 28, 2017)

Outriders Jenni Fagan & Bonnie Jo Campbell

This year, the Edinburgh Book Festival paired five Scottish writers with five writers across North and South America and sent them on a quest for truth. Two of those Outriders, Jenni Fagan and Bonnie Jo Campbell, joined Marrie Stone to talk about their journey, their observations and their findings as they traveled from New York, across the Rust Belt, to the Silicon Valley.

Drawing from their unique perspectives and their individual talents, these Outriders discuss politics, landscape, the people they met, the architecture they observed (with all its cultural implications), dogs, blueberry pancakes and more. Fagan shares selections from her truth poem. Both authors have films in the making, and blogs chronicling their adventure. Check them out here:

Jenni Fagan
Bonnie Jo Campbell
 

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(Broadcast date: June 21, 2017)

Anthony Horowitz & Anna Quindlen on Writers on Writing

British mystery and suspense writer Anthony Horowitz joins Marrie Stone to talk about his latest novel, Magpie Murders. Horowitz talks about constructing a mystery, how close-up magic can help a mystery writer, the structure of a novel within a novel, and how he's been inspired by Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and others.

In the second half, Anna Quindlen joins to talk about her novel, Miller's Valley. She shares her love of landscape, of Charles Dickens, and insights on how to create compelling characters that endure in a reader's mind.

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(Broadcast date: June 14, 2017)

Yoojin Grace Wuertz & Julianne Pachico on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Debut novelists Yoojin Grace Wuertz, author of Everything Belongs to Us, and Julianne Pachico, author of The Lucky Ones, join Marrie Stone.

Grace discusses the politics and culture of South Korea in the 1970s. Julianne talks about growing up in Columbia, and how perceptions of that country have changed over the past ten years. Both women talk about how being bilingual enriches their craft, and how writing about the countries that feel closest to them have changed their understanding of those places . . . or not.

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 (Broadcast date: April 19, 2017)

Omar El Akkad and Scott Turow on Writers on Writing, KUCI-FM

Omar El Akkad, author of American War, and Scott Turow, author of Testimony, talk with Barbara about their new novels, how they came to be, their writing process, and more.

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(Broadcast date: May 31, 2017)

Elizabeth Strout & Andrew Roe on Writers on Writing

Marrie Stone welcomes back Elizabeth Strout to discuss her latest novel in stories, Anything is Possible. Elizabeth talks about how the work grew out of My Name is Lucy Barton, and how she works in the short form.

In the second half, Andrew Roe shares his latest collection of stories, Where You Live. He discusses the importance of place and portraying a California that exists outside the Hollywood industry. Andy also talks about recurring themes and the power of the subconscious in creating stories full of depth and insight.

Both authors deconstruct one of their short stories, from original kernel of an idea, through the revision process, struggles, challenges, and the ultimate end-product.

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(Broadcast date: May 17, 2017)