Han Ong reads his story “Ming,” from the January 20, 2025, issue of the magazine. The recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and the Berlin Prize, Ong is the author of more than a dozen plays and two novels, “Fixer Chao” and “The Disinherited.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Kanak Kapur, a talented fiction writer and Olive B. O'Connor fellow at Colgate University, reads her story 'Prophecy.' The narrative humorously explores Dave's birthday, revealing the pressures of family expectations. Kapur discusses generational gaps and the balance between duty and personal growth. She dives into the complexities of love shaped by tradition and astrology, illustrating the tension between individual desires and familial obligations. Themes of grief and hope resonate as characters navigate the intricacies of their lives.

On this special holiday episode of the Writer’s Voice, we’ll hear a New Year’s story from the archives: “Signal,” by John Lanchester, which appeared in the April 3, 2017, issue of the magazine. Lanchester, a journalist and novelist, is the author of six books of fiction, including “Capital,” “The Wall,” and “Reality and Other Stories,” which was published in 2020. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Daisy Hildyard reads her story “Revision,” from the December 23, 2024, issue of the magazine. Hildyard, a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award and of one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” awards, is the author of the novels “Emergency” and “Hunters in the Snow,” and of a nonfiction book, “The Second Body.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Lauren Groff reads her story “Between the Shadow and the Soul,” from the December 16, 2024, issue of the magazine. Groff has published five novels, including “Fates and Furies” and “The Vaster Wilds,” which came out last year. Her second story collection, “Florida,” won the Story Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2018. Groff was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People this year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

David Szalay reads “Plaster,” from the December 9, 2024, issue of the magazine. Szalay is the author of six books of fiction, including “All That Man Is,” which won the Plimpton Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016, “Turbulence,” and “Flesh,” which will be published in April of 2025. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh is the author of the story collections “Brief Encounters with the Enemy” and “American Estrangement,” a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize, which was published in 2021. He has been publishing fiction in the magazine since 2010. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Greg Jackson, author of the acclaimed story collection “Prodigals” and the novel “The Dimensions of a Cave,” reads his captivating tale “The Honest Island.” Listeners are taken on an enigmatic journey with Krant, who awakens on a memory-less island. The story tackles themes of isolation, identity, and the struggles of communication as Krant interacts with locals and a special girl. As he confronts his internal confusion, the lush yet haunting landscape serves as a backdrop for a profound exploration of connection and self-discovery.

Paul Yoon reads his story “War Dogs,” from the October 28, 2024, issue of the magazine. Yoon is the author of five books of fiction, including the novels “Snow Hunters” and “Run Me to Earth,” and the story collection, “The Hive and the Honey,” a winner of the Story Prize, which was published last year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this installment, Joshua Cohen, an acclaimed author and Pulitzer Prize winner, shares his poignant story, 'My Camp.' He delves into personal experiences and the interplay between isolation and chaotic urban life, using nature imagery to express a longing for solace. The discussion shifts to financial manipulation and ethical dilemmas tied to fundraising amid conflict, blending humor with deep societal reflections. Cohen invites listeners to ponder the story's deeper meanings, celebrating the intricate balance of personal desires within a collective context.