Lauren Wolk: Write Your Own Lightning

Ben Fountain: Giving Voice to Story

This episode, we dive into storytelling with award-winning author Ben Fountain. Through novels and short stories, we discuss exploring a character and their voice, fearlessly embracing big themes and complexity, and he talks about the process of having one of his works adapted into a movie. * (00:00) - Chapter 1 * (00:13) - Understanding Story Voice * (07:17) - Character Development in Billy Lynn * (24:33) - Exploring Power Dynamics in Literature * (30:21) - The Complex Interplay of Power in Haiti * (41:34) - Reflections on Beautiful Country Burn Again Ben's Information: Ben Fountain’s work has received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction, the Barnes & Noble Discover Award for Fiction, the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, the PEN-Cerulli Award for Excellence in Sports Writing, and a Whiting Writers Award, and has been a finalist for the National Book Award and runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Most recently, he has been awarded the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and the Thomas Wolfe Prize, and, along with French author Marc Levy, L’Hermione Award given by the French American School of New York. Fountain lives in North Carolina. benfountain.com [https://benfountain.com] Ben's Books: 1. Rasputin Swims the Potomac [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781250776549] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781250459053] 2. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780060885618] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780062212672] 3. Brief Encounters with Che Guevara [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780060885601] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780062318954] 4. Devil Makes Three [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781250776532] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781250818683] 5. Beautiful Country Burn Again [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780062688750] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780062864727] Ben's headshot photo credit: Laura Overman Visit theepilogue.net [https://theepilogue.net] to view our interviews, sign up for our newsletter, and watch for upcoming member bonuses such as extended interviews and full video.

Lauren Wolk: Write Your Own Lightning

Today we get to share a conversation with the delightful Lauren Wolk, Newbery Honor and Caldecott winning author who crafts stories for middle-grade readers. We discuss her story development process, finding connection to place, her lyrical use of language. The stories we cherished in our childhood seem to have a magical spark to them. How can we capture that spark in our writing today? And do you really need to write differently for kids than adults? Spoiler alert: it’s all about being true to oneself and letting the characters speak their truth, no matter how complex or dark the themes may get! * (00:00) - Introduction * (09:05) - Writing for Young Readers or Older * (23:18) - Exploring Theme with Story * (29:11) - Letting Characters Develop * (45:10) - Candle Island * (48:18) - Supporting Young Readers Lauren's Information: Lauren Wolk is best known for her novels, including the New York Times bestselling novel Wolf Hollow, which won a 2017 Newbery Honor, the 2016 New England Book Award, a 2017 Jane Addams Honor, the 2018 Massachusetts Book Award, and other honors. Wolk's latest novel, Candle Island, published in 2025, was a finalist for the New England Book Award.  Collectively, her books have won over 50 state book awards. Lauren is also the Massachusetts Reading Association’s 2024 Children’s Literature Award winner and the author of two new picture books, currently in production. She is also as a visual artist represented by the Larkin Gallery (Provincetown and Harwich Port, Massachusetts), an award-winning poet, and a filmmaker.  laurenwolk.com [https://laurenwolk.com] Lauren's Books: 1. Beyond the Bright Sea [https://bookshop.org/p/books/beyond-the-bright-sea-lauren-wolk/4a0c4b795b184c50?ean=9781101994870&next=t] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781524775032] 2. Wolf Hollow [https://bookshop.org/p/books/wolf-hollow-lauren-wolk/8909abd1d02ee3c4?ean=9781101994849] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780451485663] 3. My Own Lightning [https://bookshop.org/p/books/my-own-lightning-lauren-wolk/2dc6b9648c4cf5f1?ean=9780525555612&next=t] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780593589137] 4. Echo Mountain [https://bookshop.org/p/books/echo-mountain-lauren-wolk/47ba8b739e332934?ean=9780525555582&next=t] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780593155820] 5. Candle Island [https://bookshop.org/p/books/candle-island-lauren-wolk/66bafef615de6a32?ean=9780593698549&next=t] or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9798217019052] Links: islandreadersandwriters.org [https://islandreadersandwriters.org] Lauren's headshot photo credit: Robert Nash Visit theepilogue.net [https://theepilogue.net] to view our interviews, sign up for our newsletter, and watch for upcoming member bonuses such as extended interviews and full video.

Gail Carriger: The Heroine’s Journey

Welcome to the Epilogue...this time I'm talking to award-winning and best selling author Gail Carriger! We discuss her Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series, the archaeology of writing, writing connected series, and most especially, the Heroine's Journey--what it is, the structure, and viewing as an alternative to the Hero's Journey. * (00:00) - Intro * (02:19) - Parasol Protectorate Series * (13:28) - The Archaeologist Role of the Author * (22:58) - Alien and Normal in Science Fiction * (35:11) - The Heroine's Journey * (45:09) - The Hero's Journey vs. The Heroine's Journey * (56:41) - Genre and Audience Alignment * (01:01:54) - Finding Your Role as an Author Gail's Information: Gail Carriger writes books that are hugs, mostly comedies of manners mixed with steampunk, urban fantasy, and sci-fi (plus cozy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). These include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Tinkered Stars, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School and Tinkered Starsong series for young adults. Also nonfiction: The Heroine’s Journey. She is published in many languages, has over two million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times. Her first book, Soulless, made Audible’s Best list, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an IndieBound Notable, and a Locus Recommended Read. She has received the American Library Association’s Alex Award, the Prix Julia Verlanger, the Elbakin Award, the Steampunk Chronicle‘s Reader’s Choice Award, and a Starburner Award. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, cephalopods, and tea. Get early access, specials, and exclusives via her website gailcarriger.com [https://gailcarriger.com]. Gail's Books Mentioned: The Heroine's Journey [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781944751340] - or audiobook version [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781944751630] Soulless [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780316402415] (Parasol Protectorate Book 1) or audiobook version [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781549140655] Prudence [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780316212250] (Custard Protocol Book 1) or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781611132076] Etiquette & Espionage [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9780316190107] (Finishing School Book 1) or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781549170089] Crudrat [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781944751241] (Tinkered Stars Book 1) or audiobook [https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=2566275&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781946429049] Divinity 36 [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781944751364] (Tinkered Starsong Book 1) The Sumage Solution [https://bookshop.org/a/113897/9781944751098] (San Andreas Shifters Book 1) [High Heat] Gail Carriger photo credit: Vanessa Applegate. Visit theepilogue.net [https://theepilogue.net] to view our interviews, sign up for our newsletter, and watch for upcoming member bonuses such as extended interviews and full video.

Charlie Jane Anders: Believing in Your Characters

This episode I talk to Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders! In this chat, we discuss her work, including how she gets inside her characters' heads, challenging the traditional ideas of protagonist and antagonist, and writing your way through personal challenges. We discuss examples from her work including All the Birds in the Sky, City in the Middle of the Night, as well as her latest book, Lessons in Magic and Disaster. * (00:00) - Intro * (04:30) - Leading the Reader into the Darkness * (10:52) - Character Perspectives * (14:40) - Protagonists and Antagonists and Neither * (16:49) - Points of View and Structure * (26:11) - Young Adult Perspectives * (32:52) - Defamiliarization in Science Fiction * (41:11) - Finding the Perspective * (46:04) - Writing Through Personal Challenge * (51:53) - Outro Charlie Jane's Information: Charlie Jane Anders is the author of Lessons in Magic and Disaster, coming August 2025 from Tor Books. Her other novels include All the Birds in the Sky, The City in the Middle of the Night and the young-adult Unstoppable trilogy. She's also the author of the short story collection Even Greater Mistakes, and Never Say You Can't Survive, a book about how to use creative writing to get through hard times. She's won the Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, Lambda Literary, Crawford and Locus Awards. She co-created Escapade, a transgender superhero, for Marvel Comics and wrote her into the long-running New Mutants comic. And she's currently the science fiction and fantasy book reviewer for the Washington Post. With Annalee Newitz, she co-hosts the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct. charliejaneanders.com [https://charliejaneanders.com] buttondown.email/charliejane [https://buttondown.email/charliejane] Charlie Jane's Books Mentioned: * All the Birds in the Sky [https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-the-birds-in-the-sky-charlie-jane-anders/7103510] * City in the Middle of the Night [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-city-in-the-middle-of-the-night-charlie-jane-anders/7103518] * Victories Greater than Death [https://bookshop.org/p/books/victories-greater-than-death-charlie-jane-anders/17086315] (first in the Unstoppable Trilogy) * Never Say You Can't Survive [https://bookshop.org/p/books/never-say-you-can-t-survive-charlie-jane-anders/15376664] * Even Greater Mistakes [https://bookshop.org/p/books/even-greater-mistakes-stories-charlie-jane-anders/15877244] * Lessons in Magic and Disaster [https://bookshop.org/p/books/lessons-in-magic-and-disaster-charlie-jane-anders/21751603] Charlie Jane Anders Photo credit: Sarah Deragon/Portraits to the People Visit theepilogue.net [https://theepilogue.net] to view our interviews, sign up for our newsletter, and watch for upcoming member bonuses such as extended interviews and full video.

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta: Myth and Memoir

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta joins me today for an episode all about how the mythology we inherit from our cultures and families, can be combined with the personal, to enhance our stories. She discusses the similarities of crafting poetry and prose, and how she weaves the magic of myth into her works, making them resonate with readers while keeping things fresh and exciting.  * (00:00) - Chapter 1 * (00:15) - Embracing Mythology in Writing * (08:25) - Exploring the Intersection of Fairy Tales and Memoir * (21:52) - The Mythology of Water: Crafting a Narrative * (31:59) - The Phases of the Heroine's Journey * (46:33) - The Journey of Writing from a Child's Perspective Elisabeth's Information: Elisabeth Sharp McKetta is an award-winning writer and writing teacher and a mother of two. With a PhD on the intersections between fairy tales and autobiography, as well as a seven-year streak of writing weekly poems for strangers, she teaches writing for Oxford Department for Continuing Education and for Harvard Extension School, where she won their highest teaching award. She has authored thirteen books across genres, most recently the novels She Never Told Me about the Ocean and Ark, the essay collection Awake with Asashoryu, and the personal growth guide Edit Your Life, based on her experience living three years in a 275-square foot backyard guest house with her family of four (five, if you count the Labrador). She co-edited the anthology What Doesn’t Kill Her: Women’s Stories of Resilience, which Gloria Steinem described as stories that “will help each of us to trust and tell our own.” Elisabeth’s work with myth and memoir, which she began studying at Harvard College and now teaches, has been spotlighted in Harvard Magazine. (elisabethsharpmcketta.com [http://elisabethsharpmcketta.com/]) Elisabeth's Books: She Never Told Me about the Ocean [https://bookshop.org/p/books/she-never-told-me-about-the-ocean-elisabeth-sharp-mcketta/14307249] Ark [https://bookshop.org/p/books/ark-elisabeth-sharp-mcketta/18574433] Edit Your Life [https://bookshop.org/p/books/edit-your-life-a-handbook-for-living-with-intention-in-a-messy-world-elisabeth-sharp-mcketta/18564192] Elisabeth's Ted Talk: Edit Your Life Like a Poem: TedXBoise [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZXHIrZMeCQ] Also Mentioned: The Virgin's Promise [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-virgin-s-promise-writing-stories-of-feminine-creative-spiritual-and-sexual-awakening-kim-hudson/10618737] by Kim Hudson The Heroine with 1001 Faces [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-heroine-with-1001-faces-maria-tatar/17463003] by Maria Tatar Visit theepilogue.net [https://theepilogue.net] to view our interviews, sign up for our newsletter, and watch for  upcoming member bonuses such as extended interviews and full video.