The Lives of Writers

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Joshua James Amberson interviews Russell Brakefield.Russell Brakefield is the author the poetry book My Modest Blindness, which is out now from us at Autofocus Books. He's also the author of Field Recordings and the forthcoming Irregular Heartbeats at the Park West (Wayne State University Press). His writing has appeared in the Indiana Review, New Orleans Review, The Common, Rattle, and elsewhere.Joshua James Amberson is the author of Staring Contest: Essays About Eyes (Perfect Day Publishing), How to Forget Almost Everything: A Novel (Korza Books), a series of chapbooks on Two Plum Press, as well as the long-running Basic Paper Airplane zine series. He lives in Portland, Oregon where he runs the Antiquated Future online variety store and record label.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- writing routines-- making a life of writing -- wonder and mystery-- writing as a job or identity-- Russ's first book Field Recordings-- the concern of audience in art____________PART TWO, topics include:-- Russ's new book My Modest Blindness-- keratoconus, and Russ's experience with it-- lamenting and celebrating the vanishing -- the thing we want to write vs the one that needs to be written-- how the need to write influences style and voice-- writing in connection with Borges's On Blindness-- sectioning the poetry book on subject and threading them-- paper and vision as metaphors____________PART THREE, topics include:-- Russ's forthcoming book Irregular Heartbeats at the Park West-- trying to continue writing while promoting two books-- working on short stories and a novel-- prose vs poetry writing-- the addictiveness of narrative-- music in Russ's life and work____________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.Episode and show artwork by Amy Wheaton. 

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Aaron Burch interviews Austin Ross.Austin Ross is the author of the novel Gloria Patri   and is a senior editor with HarperCollins, where he acquires and develops a wide variety of nonfiction titles. His fiction and essays have been featured in Publishers Weekly, Literary Hub, and elsewhere. Aaron Burch is the author of the essay collection A Kind of In-Between and editor of How to Write a Novel: An Anthology of 20 Craft Essays About Writing, None of Which Ever Mention Writing, both from Autofocus Books. He's also the author of several other books, including the novel, Year of the Buffalo. He is currently the editor of Short Story, Long and the co-editor of WAS (Words & Sports) and HAD. ____________PART ONE, topics include:-- promoting a small press novel-- becoming an editor at Harper Collins-- the day-to-day of remote editing-- the Sci-Fi  -> literary genre pipeline-- moving into your own territory as a writer____________PART TWO, topics include:-- Austin's first novel, Gloria Patri, a thriller about religious extremism/terror-- writing versions of the book across 20 years-- the year of really writing the book -- writing novels vs stories-- finding the structure of the novel-- putting experience as a kid in an isolationist home church into the novel-- researching about militia groups for the novel-- rotating point of view-- placing the novel where he didn't/doesn't live____________PART THREE, topics include:-- influential books and reading while working on the novel-- finding publication with Malarkey Books -- having the first book out-- birds____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Sara Rauch interviews Hilary Leichter.Hilary Leichter is the author of the novels Terrace House, which came out from Ecco early this fall, and Temporary, which came out, to much acclaim, from Coffee House Press in 2020. Hilary’s writing has appeared in The New Yorker, n+1, The New York Times, Conjunctions, and elsewhere. Her work in Harper’s Magazine won the 2021 National Magazine Award in Fiction.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.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- boredom and daydreaming-- the internal/external nature of writing-- teaching undergrad at Columbia after doing their MFA-- screenwriting and starting as a playwright-- writing her first novel Temporary____________PART TWO, topics include:-- drafting novels in a month-- writing her new novel Terrace Story-- book length and access-- indicating space in fiction-- an unspoiled emotional experience____________PART THREE, topics include:-- space and limited space-- short stories turning into novels-- the unintentional and intentional parts of writing--  loneliness and aloneness ____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Michael Wheaton interviews Tyler Dempsey.Tyler Dempsey is the author of Newspaper Drumsticks, Time as a Sort of Enemy, Consumption & Other Vices, and Will We All Still See Each Other Afterward. He hosts Another Fucking Writing Podcast.Michael Wheaton is the publisher of Autofocus Books and producer of The Lives of Writers.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- working for the Bureau of Land Management  -- search and rescue volunteer work-- starting his Another Fucking Writing Podcast-- the monologue development process for his show-- influential podcasts for inspiring and evolving Tyler's and Michael's-- Tyler finding sobriety after living in rural Alaska for many years and wanting to die-- Michael's own issues around similar but different shit____________PART TWO, topics include:-- more about Tyler's time in Alaska-- his brother's arrest and his relationship with him before and after-- his book of poems from his brother letters, Newspaper Drumsticks -- the story of his novel Consumption and Other Vices finding publication-- a propelling voice and dreamlike-ness-- a new autofiction novel based around his dark time in Alaska____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Jeff Alessandrelli interviews Kazim Ali.Kazim Ali is a poet, novelist, and essayist. His most recent book is Sukun: New and Selected Poems, which draws from his six previous full-length collections, and includes 35 new poems. He's also published novels, translations, anthologies, and a memoir. He was a founding editor of Nightboat Books.Jeff Alessandrelli is the author of several books, including the poetry collection Fur Not Light. He is also the director and co-editor of the small presses Fonograf Editions and Bunny Presse.____________PART ONE, topics include:--the Kinkos era of indie publishing-- looking back at 25 years of work for SUKUN: New & Selected Poems-- finding the echoes in a body of work-- the LP as poetic book form-- also putting out a New & Selected with Harper Collins India-- revising early poems and Dickenson's alternate wordings-- the new book within the new book____________PART TWO, topics include:-- starting out as a reader and writing-- varying Englishes and language that crosses borders-- working as an organizer for student organizations-- the many genres in Kazim's body of work-- not changing just to achieve a marker of success-- founding Nightboat Books or small presses in general-- always working on something creative____________PART THREE, topics include:-- the beginnings and evolution of Nightboat Books-- the small press experimental writing landscape then and now-- spirituality and faith ____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Kaycie Hall interviews Heidi Julavits.Kaycie Hall is the lead editor of our online journal Autofocus. She's also a writer and literary translator, whose work has appeared in Peach Mag, Neutral Spaces, Triangle House Review, and other journals. Heidi Julavits is the author of the new book Directions to Myself: A Memoir of Four Years, The Folded Clock: A Diary, and four novels, including the PEN Award-winning The Vanishers. She is an associate professor at Columbia University and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. She lives in New York City and Maine.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- psychic boundaries-- living and writing part of the year in Maine-- Narnia and Enid Blyton books-- writing young for the fun of it-- the life of The Believer-- writing novels and then writing The Folded Clock (memoir)____________PART TWO, topics include:-- a book Heidi sold and was supposed to write-- that book becoming Directions to Myself: A Memoir of Four Years-- thinking about how to mother a boy / mother blaming-- treatment of the same behaviors across gender-- writing about your own children____________PART THREE, topics include:-- Heidi's book tour on a boat-- getting into video editing-- the cutting involved in a current project-- a dead French actress' estate____________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.Don't forget to check out Autofocus Books. 

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Michael Wheaton interviews Benjamin Niespodziany.Benjamin Niespodziany is the author of the poetry collection No Farther Than the End of the Street  (Okay Donkey Press), the novella in one act plays Cardboard Clouds (X-R-A-Y), and two chapbooks. His work has been featured in Fence, Crazyhorse, Fairy Tale Review, Salt Hill, and other journals. He also runs the record label and blog Neon Pajamas.Michael Wheaton is the publisher of Autofocus Books and producer of this podcast.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- music and music marketing in Chicago-- his instrumental label Neon Pajamas-- writing about music in the Sound Cloud era-- growing up as a listener and a reader-- a special interest in concept albums-- moving from journalism to poetry and flash-- working at a library after time in the Peace Corps-- starting to write more and publish poetry and flash____________PART TWO, topics include:-- the novella in one-act-plays Cardboard Clouds-- language as performance and boxing yourself in-- influential books for the stage play format-- a circus-like aesthetic-- sound being everything-- his first poetry collection No Farther Than the End of the Street-- writing autobiographically without writing autobiographically____________PART THREE , topics include:-- writing from first and second vs third person-- books as concept albums-- publishing his books with presses associated with favorite journals-- accumulating writing after finding obsessions____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Lucas Mann interviews Jill Talbot.Lucas Mann is the author of three books, Captive Audience: On Love and Reality TV, Lord Fear: A Memoir, and Class A: Baseball in Middle of Everywhere. His fourth book, Attachments: Essays On Fatherhood and Other Performances is forthcoming around the spring of 2024. He is also the new co-owner Riffraff Bookstore and Bar in Providence, RI.Jill Talbot is the author of The Last Year: Essays. She’s also the author of The Way We Weren’t: A Memoir and Loaded: Women and Addiction, the co-editor of The Art of Friction: Where (Non)Fictions Come Together, and the editor of Metawritings: Toward a Theory of Nonfiction. Her craft book, The Essay Form(s), will be published in 2024.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- the longstanding conversation between Jill and Lucas--  the old writing table and a new writing table-- writing and teaching as the same project-- being the daughter of a football coach and granddaughter of a minister-- cheerleading as early identity and coming to non-fiction-- Jill's first book, LOADED____________PART TWO, topics include:-- the process of writing THE WAY THEY WEREN'T-- turning the Paris Review Daily column THE LAST YEAR into a book--  writing from the precipice -- the challenge of writing about parenthood____________PART THREE, topics include:-- navigating the intention of writing about a child-- writing habits changing after her child leaving the house-- the pandemic happening during the writing of the original column-- stories that are and aren't yours to tell-- life after the end of THE LAST YEAR____________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.Don't forget to check out Autofocus Books. 

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Sara Rauch interviews John Milas.John Milas is the author of the gothic horror novel The Militia House, which came out this year from MacMillan. He served on active duty in the Martine Corps and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.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.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- the office ceiling collapsing-- a job you don't take home-- writing habits changing-- the first draft of his novel THE MILITIA HOUSE--  getting  away with watching Alien as a sheltered kid-- enlisting in the marines-- a valuable poetry workshop____________PART TWO, topics include:-- serving as a marine from 2008 - 2012-- returning to school after the military-- the parts of deployment that became parts of the novel-- the haunted house at the center of the novel-- scaring yourself to scare readers____________PART THREE, topics include:-- porcupine quills as a motif in the novel-- unfamiliarity-- repetition as escalation rather than duplication-- narrative devices related to writing-- the question of PTSD in Act 3-- the style of the narrator vs the writer ____________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.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Holly Pelesky interviews Stephanie Austin.Holly Pelesky is the author of the essay collection, Cleave, from us at Autofocus Books. She also writes fiction and poetry and co-edits Vast Chasm literary magazine.Stephanie Austin is the author of Something I Might Say, a short essay collection now available from WTAW Press. Her work has been published in more than 25 literary journals in the United States and Canada including The Sun, American Short Fiction, Bending Genres, Wigleaf, Pithead Chapel, and others. An  essay from Stephanie's collection, Kill Floor, was originally published by us at Autofocus.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- assistant property management-- sending out a novel for 15 years-- agonizing less over writing CNF-- the short essay collection SOMETHING I MIGHT SAY-- a lot of loss in a short period of time-- health anxiety in general and especially during the pandemic-- watching a parent's body die-- caregiving for others and (not) taking care of the self-- getting (and enjoying) a low-res MFA____________PART TWO, topics include:-- growing up in a small rural town in Illinois-- things shattering after a move -- reading and writing about ghosts and vampires as a kid-- healing and whether one actually heals-- the things you've been trying to do for 20 years being possible-- a rejection that turn into publication for Something I Might Say ____________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.