I started to write an introduction for this interview that talked about the hidden lives of girls and their mothers. I mentioned bullies and victims, shoplifting, unwanted pregnancies, and other topics Dylan Landis takes on in her debut short story collection, NORMAL PEOPLE DON’T LIVE LIKE THIS.
In the end, I scrapped that intro because it [...]
In 2001, Judi Hendricks published her debut novel, BREAD ALONE, which went on to be a bestseller. Now she’s out with her fourth book, THE LAWS OF HARMONY, about a woman trying to flee from grief and betrayal. We’ll talk about this new book, the persistence of memory, and the lessons she learned from the [...]
In Naseem Rakha’s debut novel, THE CRYING TREE, a 15-year-old boy is killed; and as his family unravels, the boy’s mother lives only for the day that the murderer will be executed. Months turn into years, and a single action changes everything, opens the possibility for forgiveness. I loved talking to Naseem about this book, [...]
The deal: My novel, THE RUBY CUP, will be published by Harper Perennial!
A few details: On Friday, I got a call from my agent with an offer from Harper Perennial. It’s my favorite publishing house (everyone who knows me best knows this), so it was an extra thrill.
Earlier in the week, I’d spoken with the [...]
Attica Locke has written movie scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, and is currently co-writing a miniseries for HBO about the civil rights movement. But it’s her debut novel, BLACK WATER RISING*, that has satisfied her need to write original material and find her own voice.
This literary thriller is about a good [...]
Lac Su left his homeland of Vietnam under gunfire, and at age five, began his life in America in an apartment teeming with drugs and prostitutes. His memoir, I LOVE YOUS ARE FOR WHITE PEOPLE*, tells the story of his search for a sense of worth and belonging from a violent father and local gangs. [...]
Today, I’d like you to meet Ann Kingman, a book lover, blogger, and District Sales Manager for one of the major publishing houses. We’ll be talking about what she does with your books in that window of time between turning in your final edits and seeing your book for sale. She’ll also share her opinion [...]
Belle Yang is an author and painter whose honest words and vibrant illustrations tell stories about her Chinese heritage, the plight of immigrants in America, and the complex relationships between those we love.
Join our conversation as we talk about art, repression, writing for children, and the power of words.
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When did you know you were an [...]
Time to break out the exclamation points for two well-deserving guests of LitPark:
Tomorrow (Thursday, January 29th), the fabulous Jimmy Margulies will be on CNN’s American Morning program for a feature on cartoonists drawing Obama and Bush. It should air between 8:30 and 9am. And if you missed Jimmy’s interview or want to leave him a [...]
Today I want to introduce you to a political cartoonist who has much to teach us about focus, stamina, creating on a deadline, and working in the arts during hard economic times.
Jimmy Margulies is the nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist for The Record. Through King Features, Margulies’ cartoons appear in The New York Times, Washington Post, [...]
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