The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life
John King
Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate world, but also the scrawled notes and tortured drafts that lead writers there. In long-form interviews, writers discuss their process and the way that writing has influenced their lives. Besides this interview, each episode also features a short memoir essay from a writer about a beloved book, plus John King responds to listener's questions and observations about the writing (and the drinking) life.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 19, 2014 • 1h 33min
Episode 109: Pauline Hawkins!
On this week’s show, I talk to writer, teacher, and advocate Pauline Hawkins, plus Caitlin McDonnell writes about discovering her urge to teach, from a night spent in jail, in "The Capacity of Language to Make Us Less Alone." NOTES Harper Lee has contested any participation or approval in Marja Mills's new biography of her, according to The Guardian. To learn more about Pauline Hawkins' radical way of teaching George Orwell's Animal Farm, read her blog here. This episode proudly features the music of The Intoxicators.
Jul 13, 2014 • 1h 43min
Episode 108: Matt Peters!
On this week’s show, I talk to the publisher of Beating Windward Press, Matt Peters, Plus Stephen Scully writes a memoir essay about meeting two baseball legends. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES The British children's book author Allan Ahlberg refused a lifetime achievement award due to its being sponsored by Amazon, according to The Guardian.
Jul 5, 2014 • 1h 30min
Episode 107: Boris Fishman!
On this week’s show, I talk to the fiction writer Boris Fishman, Photo by Rob Liguori Plus Lisa Korthals shares her essay about reading Lolita as a child. TEXTS DISCUSSED
Jun 28, 2014 • 60min
Episode 106: Nicole Callihan
On this week’s show, I talk to the poet and essayist Nicole Callihan, plus Maureen Vance writes about Jane Eyre. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES According to The Guardian, British publishers and the Society for Authors (a trade union for UK writers) are trying to push back against Amazon’s fierce demands for more power in the book industry. They liken Amazon's terms to a form of "assisted suicide." According to The Times, Barnes and Noble will spin off its Nook division as a separate company from its traditional bookseller endeavors. Carlton Melton's "Spiderwebs" accompanies Maureen Vance's "Jane and Me." This song is available on the album Always Even. The Tequila Worms have generously offered their album Cantina as a free download.
Jun 21, 2014 • 1h 5min
Episode 105: Alden Jones!
On this week’s show, I talk to fiction writer and memoirist-extraordinaire Alden Jones, plus Peter Demarco writes about discovering Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES According to The Guardian, Salman Rushdie has won the PEN/Pinter award for 2014. Also according to The Guardian, Quentin Tarantino and Matt Wagner will collaborate on a Django/Zorro crossover comic book.
Jun 16, 2014 • 1h 33min
Episode 104: Bloomsday!
On this bonus episode, I guide listeners through a lovely tour of Ulysses on today, which is Bloomsday. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Check out Black 47's music here, or wherever you buy music. "I Got Laid on James Joyce's Grave" appears on Trouble in the Land.
Jun 14, 2014 • 1h 20min
Episode 103: Alan Michael Parker!
On this week’s show, I talk to the fiction writer and poet Alan Michael Parker, Plus Andrew Gretes offers his "Ode to Zorba." TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Davis Sedaris talked about the Amazon/Hachette battle to Parnassus Books, a bookstore in Tennessee.
Jun 7, 2014 • 1h 47min
Episode 102: A Donald Duck Roundtable!
On this week’s show, my friends Teege Braune of In Boozo Veritas fame, Sean Ironman of Heroes Never Rust fame, Jeff Shuster, who is the Curator of Schlock, and Dianne Turgeon Richardson join me for a roundtable discussion of Donald Duck on his 80th birthday. TEXTS DISCUSSED
May 31, 2014 • 1h 25min
Episode 101: Erica Dawson!
On this week’s show, I talk to the poet Erica Dawson, Plus Nicole Callihan reads her memoir essay, "The Week in News." TEXTS DISCUSSED Nicole Callihan's "The Week in News" originally appeared on The Well and Often Press. Nicole Callihan's poetry collection, Superloop. NOTES Jeremy Greenfield, in an article for The Atlantic, has explored the continuing struggle between Amazon.com and the Hachette publishing group. The Peyton James Freeman Prize for nonfiction essays is now accepting submissions. There is no reading fee, and the contest is being judged by Cheryl Strayed. Horoscopes penned by my signature character Guy Psycho are now available online at The Newer York's site. On this show, I eulogized Bunny Yeager and Maya Angelou.
May 24, 2014 • 55min
Episode 100: Mailbag Episode 5 (The Dream Child)
On this week’s show, I answer some mail with my friend, David James Poissant, plus Rose Tran shares a memoir essay about her unpleasantly Proustian relationship to Florida weather.
