From debut authors to Pulitzer Prize winners, Writers on Writing tackles a little of everything — novels, short stories, memoir, poetry, and more, as well as interviews with agents and publishers.

Unlike other shows dedicated to discussing books, we focus on the art, craft, and business of writing. Writers appreciate the opportunity to talk about the artistic elements of their job — the thousands of decisions that must be made to produce a manuscript. There’s no aspect of craft, creativity, and publishing we don’t explore.

We’ve hosted well over 1,500 authors on the show including Elizabeth Strout, S.A. Cosby, Ann Patchett, Amor Towles, and George Saunders. Expert advice from some of the industry’s top writers allows us to offer a show that’s been called “your own personal MFA program” (with no financial strain).

Host: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Host: Marrie Stone

Music and sound editing by Travis Barrett

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.

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EPISODES

(2001 - present)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 6/18/11 Barbara DeMarco-Barrett 6/18/11

Pen on Fire Salon with Aimee Bender and Michael Jaime-Becerra

The Pen on Fire Writers Salon. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett in conversation with Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and Michael Jaime-Becerra, author of This Time Tomorrow.

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(Event date: June 2010)

Marrie 1/3/11 Marrie 1/3/11

2nd Annual Agents Night - Pen on Fire Writers Salon

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett hosts literary agents Jill Marr, Jamie Weiss Chilton, and Sally van Haitsma at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon.

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(Event date: July 13, 2010)

Marrie 12/21/10 Marrie 12/21/10

Pen on Fire Speaker Series: Merrill Markoe

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett welcomes Merrill Markoe, author of Nose Down, Eyes Up: A Novel, to the Pen on Fire Speaker Series at the Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar.

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Marrie 11/11/10 Marrie 11/11/10

Dennis Palumbo and Daniel Pyne -- Pen on Fire Writers Salon

The Pen on Fire Writers Salon presents Dennis Palumbo, author of Mirror Image and Daniel Pyne, author of TwentyNine Palms.

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(Event date: September 14, 2010)

Marrie 9/6/10 Marrie 9/6/10

Speaker Series: Susan Straight and Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum

Susan Straight, author of A Million Nightingales, Highwire Moon and the forthcoming Take One Candle Light a Room (October 2010) and Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, author of Ms. Hempel Chronicles and Madeleine is Sleeping appear at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series at the Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar on October 27, 2009.

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(Broadcast date: October 27, 2009)

Marrie 4/6/10 Marrie 4/6/10

Pen on Fire Speaker Series (T. Jefferson Parker)

T. Jefferson Parker, author of Iron River, is interviewed by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett at the Pen on Fire Speaker Series at the Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar.

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(Broadcast date: Jan 26, 2010)

Marrie 3/1/10 Marrie 3/1/10

Pen on Fire Speaker Series: Susan Straight and Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum

The Pen on Fire Speaker Series presents an evening with Susan Straight, author of Highwire Moon and Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, author of Ms. Hempel Chronicles.

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(Event date: October 27, 2009)