Rock is Lit: From Folk Clubs to Alt-Rock Festivals: Sarah Seltzer Reads From and Discusses Her Novel ‘The Singer Sisters’

In this episode of the Rock is Lit Season Four Reading Series, Sarah Seltzer joins the podcast to discuss and read an excerpt from her USA Today bestselling novel, ‘The Singer Sisters’.

Set in 1996, the novel follows alt-rocker Emma Cantor as she navigates the highs and lows of a rising music career while grappling with the legacy of her mother, Judie, a 1960s folk legend. Emma’s journey is marked by revelations about her family’s past, her complicated relationship with Judie, and the sacrifices women artists often make for success.

Sarah shares the musical inspiration behind her book, revealing how the rich world of folk and rock music shaped the story and its characters. She also delves into her fascination with family dynamics in artistic households and the interplay between creative ambition and personal struggles.

Sarah Seltzer is a writer in New York City, where she lives with her family, surrounded by books, records, and CDs. She is an editor at ‘Lilith Magazine’ and has been a journalist for many publications, reporting on activism and culture, and writing essays, cultural criticism, and the occasional opinion piece. ‘The Singer Sisters’, born out of her fascination with families who put their struggles into art, was published by Flatiron Books in summer 2024.

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

• Rock is Lit theme music
• [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
• “Possession” by Sarah McLachlan
• “Untouchable Face” by Ani DiFranco
• “All I Want” by Joni Mitchell
• [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
• Rock is Lit theme music

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Sarah Seltzer’s website: https://sarahseltzer.wordpress.com/

Sarah Seltzer on Instagram and Twitter: @sarahmseltzer

Sarah Seltzer on Facebook: @SarahSeltzer

Sarah Seltzer on Bluesky: @sarahmseltzer.bsky.social

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

Rock is Lit on Instagram: @rockislitpodcast

Rock is Lit on Bluesky: @rockislitpodcast.bsky.social

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