Emerson Whitney [Host: Sara Rauch]

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Sara Rauch interviews Emerson Whitney.

Emerson Whitney is the author of Daddy Boy (McSweeney’s 2023), Heaven (McSweeney’s 2020), and the poetry title, Ghost Box (Timeless Infinite Light, 2014). Emerson’s work has appeared in The Paris Review, New York Magazine, The Los Angeles Review of Books and elsewhere.

Sara Rauch is the author of the book-length essay XO, from us at Autofocus Books. She’s also the author of the story collection, What Shines from it, from Alternating Current Press. Her book reviews and author interviews have been featured in the LA Review of Books, Newcity Lit, Lambda Literary, The Rumpus, and elsewhere.

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PART ONE, topics include:

-- a deep intentionality around place

-- teaching at Godard College's low-residency program

-- going to undergrad at Godard after six other programs

-- alternative educational paths

-- reporting for the New York Observer

-- writing autobiographically young

-- an otherwise dangerous childhood

-- working with Maggie Nelson at Cal Arts

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PART TWO, topics include:

-- the reader/writer dynamic in direct address

-- best writing as best thinking

-- Emerson's new book Daddy Boy

-- chasing storms that never materialize

-- the mutable self

-- multi-generational disability experiences

-- tornado as book structure

-- weather

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PART THREE, topics include:

-- pain and agency

-- writing about kink

-- suppressing signals

-- the end of storm chasing

-- new work about special ed and disability

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Podcast theme music provided by Mike Nagel, author of Duplex. Here's more of his project: Yeah Yeah Cool Cool.

The Lives of Writers is edited and produced by Michael Wheaton.