Author Archives: J-L

Tune in today to hear Tyehimba Jess read from Olio (Wave Books 2016).  We talk about music, forms, poems on a page that folds out, research, performance, and deconstructing received history and reconstructing it in a new… Read more: Tyehimba Jess

Tune in today to hear Leslie Jamison read from Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story (Little, Brown 2024). We talk about being specific, google searches into prose poems, memory, memoir, mothers, babies, exes, fathers, places, and writing.… Read more: Leslie Jamison

Today Perry Janes reads from Find Me When You’re Ready  (Curbstone Books/ Northwestern University Press 2024).  We talk about poems and filmmaking, structure, myth, and moving cross country. Please join us this afternoon– T  Hetzel http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2024-10-02-170001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio *thanks… Read more: Perry Janes

Palestinian American poet Fady Joudah talks about growing up in the Middle East and returning to the States for undergrad and med school. We talk about translation and adaptation, identity, and “what a Palestinian voice… Read more: Fady Joudah

Catherine Lacey reads from Certain American States: Stories (Picador 2018) in a special Fundraiser 2020 episode of Living Writers. We talk about websites, irresolution, humor, dogs, and her novel Pew out in May 2020. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2020-02-19-170001-EST.mp3… Read more: Catherine Lacey

Ilya Kaminsky reads from Deaf Republic (Graywolf Press 2019). We talk about language and silence, fabulism, the imagined town of Vasenka with its puppet theater, and poets that inspire. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2020-02-05-170001-EST.mp3 Download Audio  

Jac Jemc reads from False Bingo (FSG Originals 2019). We talk about tactical elements of the writing life.  We also talk about being playful, about finding and building community, and about a frog.

Summer host Amanda Uhle talks with Emmy Kastner about her book series Nerdy Babies (Macmillan 2019).

Carol Jacobsen reads from For Dear Life: Women’s Decriminalization and Human Rights in Focus (University of Michigan Press 2019). We talk about social justice documentaries, the Michigan Women’s Justice and Clemency Project, feminism, human rights, survival, and art. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2019-02-13-1700-EST.mp3… Read more: Carol Jacobsen

Danielle Lazarin reads from Back Talk (Penguin Books 2018). We talk about debut story collections, family, interiors of characters, second projects and push pins. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2018-09-19-1700-EDT.mp3 Download Audio  

Li-Young Lee talks about scarcity, best words, A Love Supreme, and the attempt to understand our collective human mission.  The featured book is The Undressing (Norton 2018) http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2018-09-06-170001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio *Please note: there were… Read more: Li-Young Lee

Lillian Li reads from her debut novel Number One Chinese Restaurant (Henry Holt 2018).  We talk about family, a donkey fable, working at a restaurant, and asking yourself questions as a writer.  We also talk about duck.   http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2018-06-14-170001-EDT.mp3 Download… Read more: Lillian Li

MohjaKahf reads from Hagar Poems (University of Arkansas Press 2016). We talk about the intersecting stories of Hagar, Abraham and Sarah, traditional narratives, and  reconfiguring stories for the current moment–and Mohja also reads poems from the new… Read more: Mohja Kahf

ShamilJeppie came to town to give the 2018 Marc and Constance Jacobson Lecture, Archives and Futures: A View from “The Most Distant Place.”  We talk about Timbuktu, manuscript collections, family archives, and digitization. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2018-03-07-1700-EST.mp3 Download Audio Taped… Read more: Shamil Jeppie

From the archive: 2017 Rest in power, John.   Join us for a special program featuring a conversation with Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell about their trilogy MARCH.  We also hear… Read more: MARCH: Congressman John Lewis with Andew Aydin and Nate Powell

David Lagercrantz reads from The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye (Knopf 2017), the latest in the Lisbeth Salander series. We talk about continuing Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series, being a board member of PEN… Read more: David Lagercrantz

Janet Kauffman reads poems from Eco-dementia (Wayne State University Press, Fall 2017). We talk about mixed media projects, assemblages, nature and activism. https://umich.box.com/shared/static/i15rqcxgem4thubgi9srfqx7wtsohhj8.mp3 Download Audio

Detroit writer Oneita Jackson, author of Letters from Mrs. Grundy and Nappy-Headed Negro Syndrome joins guest host Amanda Uhle for a conversation about manners, grace, and customer service – with a special emphasis on cab drivers. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2017-08-02-170001-EDT.mp3 Download… Read more: Oneita Jackson

Zilka Joseph reads from her book of poems Sharp Blue Search of Flame, published by Wayne State University Press. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2016-04-20-170001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio For more about the author, click here!

Laila Lalami reads from her novel The Moor’s Account published now in paperback by Vintage & Anchor Books. We talk about historical fiction: the historical record and the historical imagination. We also talk about the mind… Read more: Laila Lalami

Hear poet Michael Lauchlan read from his latest collection Trumbull Ave. out this year with Wayne State University Press. We’ll talk about Detroit and about evoking place and creating narrative worlds that span decades. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2015-07-29-170001-EDT.mp3 Download… Read more: Michael Lauchlan

Kelly Link reads from her collection of short stories Get In Trouble published by Random House. We talk about writing a story without something “magical” in it. We also talk about taxidermy, Ray Bradbury,… Read more: Kelly Link

Norton Juster reads from his classic The Phantom Tollbooth reissued for its 50th Anniversary by Knopf (2011). We talk about the imagination and the lands beyond. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2015-03-11-170001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio

J. A. Jance reads from the latest in her Joanna Brady mystery series Remains of Innocence published by William Morrow. We talk about telling a good story and creating suspense. We also talk about her… Read more: J. A. Jance

Leslie Jamison reads from her essay collection The Empathy Exams published by Graywolf Press. We talk about anthems, manifestos, pain and the soundtrack for driving on one Michigan night.  http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2014-05-07-170001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio For more about the… Read more: Leslie Jamison

Thomas Lynch joins T in a conversation to celebrate National Poetry Month, featuring poems by Conrad Hilberry and his collection published by Wayne State University Press Until The Full Moon Has Its Say. Also… Read more: Thomas Lynch

Kristin Hersh reads from her book Rat Girl: A Memoir out with Penguin Books. We talk about Throwing Muses, and unlikely friends and mentors, and the lives of songs. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2013-05-29-160001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio For more… Read more: Kristin Hersh

From the archive: 2013 A. Van Jordan reads poems from The Cineaste (W. W. Norton & Company 2014).  We talk about the love of film, family, and organists.  We talk about disappearing and emerging… Read more: A. Van Jordan

Megan Levad reads poems from You Are Where You Live and from Another & Another: an anthology from The Grind Daily Writing Series published by Bull City Press. We talk about composing a libretto… Read more: Megan Levad

From the archive: 2012 Philip Levine talks about writing every day.  We also talk about Aunt Belle, Spain, anarchism, Larry Levis, pianist Bill Evans, Detroit, and Adrienne Rich.  Books on the table with us:… Read more: Philip Levine

Scott Lasser talks about his novel Say Nice Things About Detroit published by W.W. Norton & Company. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2012-07-18-163001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio For more about the author, click here! photo credit: Joanne Chen

Ish Klein reads from Moving Day published by Canarium Books.  We talk about the momentum of long poems, connection and compassion, filmmaking and puppets. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2011-04-06-163001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio photo credit: Nerve Lantern

A conversation with Jonathan Lethem, a very good sport indeed. Jonathan Lethem‘s visit also marks WCBN’s fundraising week. We talk about his books Motherless Brooklyn, The Fortress of Solitude and Chronic City published in paperback by Vintage.… Read more: Jonathan Lethem

Hear Kathe Koja read from her novel “Under the Poppy” published this year by Small Beer Press. We’ll talk about historical fiction, young adult fiction, puppets, and Detroit. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2010-11-03-163001-EDT.mp3 Download Audio *Special thanks to… Read more: Kathe Koja

From the archives: 2010 Yusef Komunyakaa reads poems from Pleasure Dome:New and Collected Poems (Wesleyan 2001), Warhorses (FSG 2008) and Chameleon Couch (Macmillan 2011). We talk about the leaps of lyrical narrative, the particular perfection… Read more: Yusef Komunyakaa

From the archive: 2010 Twesigye Jackson Kaguri reads from his book The Price of Stones: Building A School For My Village (Penguin Group USA 2010). We talk about how he founded a school in rural… Read more: Twesigye Jackson Kaguri

Tune in today to hear Yiyun Li read from her novel “The Vagrants” published by Random House Trade Paperback Edition in 2010. We will talk about heroism, China in the 1970s, and William Trevor.… Read more: Yiyun Li

Elizabeth Kostova reads from her second novel The Swan Thieves published by Little, Brown.  We talk about research and the imagination–and the past making itself felt on the present.  We also talk about Bulgaria, French Impressionism,… Read more: Elizabeth Kostova

hear Michigan’s own Thomas Lynch read from his short story collection “Apparition & Late Fictions” published this January by W.W.Norton & Company. We’ll talk about how working with fiction and the short story framework… Read more: Thomas Lynch

Hear Jonathan Lethem read from his latest novel “Chronic City” published this year by Doubleday. We’ll talk about voice and character–and toast the Rolling Stones with Dr.Pepper. http://beanball.wcbn.org/rss/Living_Writers/wcbn-living_writers-2009-11-25-163001-EST.mp3 Download Audio *This program was taped… Read more: Jonathan Lethem

Hear Michigan’s own Laura Kasischke read from her latest novel “In A Perfect World” published this autumn by Harper Perennial. We’ll talk about writing each day, what it takes to see a novel through and the… Read more: Laura Kasischke

Hear Scott Lasser read from his latest novel “The Year that Follows” published this year by Knopf. We’ll talk about the art of characterization and the challenge within writing about loss–both personal and a country’s. We’ll… Read more: Scott Lasser

Hear poet Josie Kearns read from her latest books “The Theory of Everything” and “Alphabet of the Ocean” published this year by Mayapple Press and March Street Press respectively. We’ll talk about detail and… Read more: Josie Kearns

Hear Laurie R. King read from her latest in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series “The Language of Bees” published this May by Bantam Dell We’ll talk about the strong form of the… Read more: Laurie R. King

Hear Valerie Laken read from her debut novel “Dream House” published in 2009 by HarperCollins. We’ll talk about “the way our homes define and defy us” and how the spirit of obsession can lead… Read more: Valerie Laken

Julian Levinson reads from his book Exiles on Main Street: Jewish American Writers and American Literary Cultur” (2008) published by Indiana University Press.  We talk about Walt Whitman, Emma Lazarus and The Rolling Stones.  We also talk about… Read more: Julian Levinson

Julian Levinson reads from his book “Exiles on Main Street: Jewish American Writers and American Literary Culture” published this year by Indiana University Press. We’ll talk about Walt Whitman, Emma Lazarus and The Rolling Stones.  We’ll… Read more: Julian Levinson

Hear poet Zilka Joseph read from “Lands I Live In” published by Mayapple Press in 2007. We’ll talk about Bob Dylan and Rabindranath Tagore.  We’ll also talk about how each of us carries worlds within us–no… Read more: Zilka Joseph

Randa Jarrar reads from her debut novel “A Map of Home” published this September by Other Press. We’ll talk about writing a coming of age novel that takes place in Kuwait and Texas–and about how a… Read more: Randa Jarrar

Janet Kauffman reads from her latest collection “Trespassing:  Dirt Stories & Field Notes” published this year by Wayne State University Press for the Made in Michigan Writers Series. We’ll talk about the obvious: fiction and nonfiction… Read more: Janet Kauffman