The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

In this week’s episode, I talk about Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Poetry as Insurgent Art with Vanessa Blakeslee, Plus Alice Lowe writes about how Virginia Woolf's A Writer's Diary changed her life. TEXTS DISCUSSED Poetry As Insurgent Art"> Coney Island Of The Mind" target="_blank"> Writers Diary Being Extracts from the Diary of Virginia Woolf" target="_blank"> NOTES Coney Island was much more interesting in 1907 than it turned out to be in 2007 when I visited. The line for food was onerous. And no funnel cake. His philtrum is a bit too feline for someone serving food. This was not as much fun as it looked. This ride was, disappointingly, all facade. It covered half-a-ring at most, with mostly tetanus to frighten you with. Parachute Literary Arts managed a much better poetic experience at Coney Island. Wonder Wheel, photographed by Jim McDonnell. Amanda Deutch hosting the night of poetry in and on The Wonder Wheel. Emcee and Coney Island Hysterical Society co-founder (on the left, outside the car) Richard Eagan. Julie Ezelle Patton. Wanda Phipps reading. _____ Episode 189 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week’s episode, I interview memoir writer J.J. Anselmi, Plus Patty Hawkins eulogizes David Bowie. TEXTS DISCUSSED Heavy" target="_blank">Low" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-10773">NOTES Check out Drew Perlmutter's kickstarter campaign for his upcoming documentary, US Highway 98: The Florida I Never Knew. He was my cinematographer for The Drunken Odyssey's first documentary, The Weeki Wachee Spectacular. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Cg6lFnfl4 Patty Hawkin's recommends Bowie's Jazzin for Blue Jean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXvAaNcXNzI

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Kelly Link, Plus I share the reading she participated in, "Short Stories, Tall Tales," also featuring Adam Johnson and Padgett Powell. TEXTS DISCUSSED Get in Trouble: Stories" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-10669">NOTES Get in Trouble: Stories" target="_blank"> A Quaker high school in Philadelphia has removed Huckleberry Finn from its curriculum. Mein Kampf will be published in Germany for the first time in 70 years. Neil Gaiman straightened out an impatient George R. R. Martin fan back in 2009, which is perhaps why fans are being nicer to Martin right now, after he missed a deadline for the latest installment of A Song of Ice and Fire.

In this week’s episode, I interview the poet and memoirist Nick Flynn, Plus I share the reading he participated in about 45 minutes after our interview, a reading that also included Ed Skoog and Denise Duhamel (Episode 134). TEXTS DISCUSSED My Feelings Poems" target="_blank"> Another Bullshit Night in Suck City A Memoir" target="_blank"> Rough Day" target="_blank">

In this week’s episode, I interview Teege Braune, who reads short story, "Top Takes a Top," which just appeared in Bridge Eight. TEXTS DISCUSSED Ethiopiques%204" target="_blank"> Ulysses Complete & Unabridged As Corrected & Reset in 1961" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8475">NOTES Scott McCloud and Cory Doctorow: A Conversation is now available on TDO's youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwnK1I2Xhg

In this week’s episode, I interview Cory Doctorow and Amy Hempel, plus Shawn McKee reads his personal essay, "A Confession." TEXTS DISCUSSED In Real Life" target="_blank"> Down & Out In The Magic Kingdom" target="_blank"> Information Doesnt Want to Be Free" target="_blank"> The Hand That Feeds You" target="_blank"> Collected Stories of Amy Hempel" target="_blank"> NOTES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV9zW3ou0tM

In this week’s episode, I interview Mary Karr, and share her talk at Miami Book Fair International 2015, plus I share a Miami Bookfair Event I was in, Tiffany Razzano's Saved by the Sunshine State. Tiffany Razzano ruling over The Swamp!

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Elizabeth McCracken, and share her reading at Miami Book Fair International 2015, plus Dallas Woodburn reads her personal essay, "First, Please Yourself." NOTES David Henry Hwang is apparently going to be okay after being seriously attacked with a knife in Brooklyn. Special thanks to Lisa Martens, Don Royster, and Racquel Henry for sharing their impressions of NANOWRIMOing. TEXTS DISCUSSED Thunderstruck & Other Stories" target="_blank"> Durable Goods" target="_blank">

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Rick Moody plus Ryan Rivas reads his essay, "Reporting from Inside the Vortex of Miami Book Fair," which first appeared on lithub. TEXTS DISCUSSED Check out Rick's new band, The Unspeakable Practices. Episode 181 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.