Portland Helmich, television host, producer, writer, and actor, talks to Daniel Ford about her nonlinear career path, the art of interviewing, matching wits with F. Lee Bailey, delivering a winning performance on The Moth, and her work on the “Stranglers” podcast. To learn more about Portland Helmich, visit her official website or follow her on Twitter @Portlandh .
Dave Pezza talks to Daniel Ford about signing on with 50/50 Press, what went into writing his debut novel Sid Sanford Lives! , and how the Writer’s Bone writing community kept him on the right track. Learn more about Daniel Ford by visiting 50/50 Press’ author page , liking the Facebook page for Sid Sanford Lives! , and following him on Twitter @danielfford....
Mark Tompkins, author of the brilliant and bloody The Last Days of Magic , talks to Daniel Ford about the novel coming out in paperback, what he learned while promoting the book, and what’s in store for his characters in the sequel he’s working on. “Tenacity is the defining characteristic of a successful writer,” Tompkins says. To learn about Mark Tompkins, visit his official website , like his Facebook page , or follow him on Twitter @MLTompkins . Also listen to our first podcast with the autho...
Today’s guest is actor, writer, and director John Shea. The versatile filmmaker talks to Daniel Ford about his new movie “ Grey Lady .” In addition to talking about the odyssey he persevered through in order to make “Grey Lady,” Shea discusses what led him to acting and filmmaking and why “writers are the bravest of all the film and theater artists.” “It takes some insane amount of passion, belief, stubbornness, determination, and lifeblood to keep a film alive.”—John Shea...
In the third installment of #NovelClass, Dave Pezza and Daniel Ford discuss Lisa Gardner’s Right Behind You . (Be warned, there a major spoilers.)
James Boice, author of The Shooting , talks to Gary Almeter about America’s gun culture and how he developed his empathetic characters.
Stephanie Danler, author of last year’s hot novel Sweetbitter (which is out in paperback today), talks to Daniel Ford about how her restaurant jobs inspired her debut novel, her serendipitous publishing journey, and why it’s imperative that aspiring authors finish what they start.
Today’s guest is Lee Goldberg , author, television producer, and “charming man around town.” Goldberg talks to Sean Tuohy about his love of mysteries and thrillers, his work on hit TV shows like “Diagnosis Murder,” “seaQuest,” “Spenser for Hire,” and “Monk,” his journalism career, and his relationship with the legendary Stephen J. Cannell. He also describes one of the worst episodes of television ever made (featuring "Egyptian terrorists” and “sexy New York models”), what he looks for when choos...
Music and writing inspiration, y’all! Country music artist Kasey Lansdale returns to add sweet snark and creative mojo to your morning coffee. She talks to Sean Tuohy about life on tour, her performing process, funny album titles, and what she has planned next.
Today’s guest is Pamela Samuels Young, award-winning author of Anybody’s Daughter , Every Reasonable Doubt , Murder on the Down Low , and the upcoming Abuse of Discretion . Young talked to Daniel Ford recently about how a desire to see more minority characters in legal thrillers led her to storytelling, her early morning writing process, and her work as an anti-trafficking advocate.
Lilly Goren, co-author of Mad Men and Politics and Women and the White House , talks to Daniel Ford about her path to academia and writing, her research process, and the connections between “ Mad Men,” pop culture, and politics.
Live from Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., authors Joshua Mohr and Josh Cook talk to Daniel Ford and Sean Tuohy about their writing processes, which authors influence their work, and why working writers and readers need to “share the garlic.” Joshua Mohr is the author of Sirens , a memoir about addiction, relapse, and recovery. Author Ron Currie says, “there is no line Mohr won't cross, either in his erstwhile quest for self-immolation, or his fearless honesty in reporting back from that...
Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, founder of Healing Justice and co-author of Picking Cotton , talks to Sean Tuohy about her relationship with Ronald Cotton, the origin story behind the book, and her efforts to help victims and survivors of wrongful convictions.
Elliot Ackerman, author of Green on Blue and the recently published Dark at the Crossing , talks to Dave Pezza about toggling between journalism and fiction, painting an honest and realistic portrait of the Middle East, developing characters who feel real, and why it takes guts to write.
Dwayne Alexander Smith, Hollywood screenwriter and author of Forty Acres , talks to Daniel Ford about how “Star Wars” inspired him to become a filmmaker, why he decided to try his hand at writing fiction, how he developed the concept for his award-winning thriller, and why the magic is always in the details.
In this special Sunday episode, Joshua Mohr, author of All This Life and his recently published memoir Sirens , talks to Sean Tuohy about what fueled his desire to tell his own story, the taboo on talking about relapse, and why he hopes Sirens will help people who want to “do better.” A friendly reminder that Writer’s Bone will be appearing with authors Joshua Mohr and Josh Cook at Porter Square Books on March 16 at 7 p.m. Come out and support badass authors, local bookstores, and humble podcast...
John Garofolo, author of Dickey Chapelle Under Fire: Photographs by the First American Female War Correspondent Killed in Action , talks to Daniel Ford about what inspired him to explore and share Dickey Chapelle’s story, his research process, how he narrowed down the photographs for the book, and what we can learn about war and humanity through Chapelle’s photography.
Alex George, author of the recently published Setting Free the Kites , talks to Daniel Ford about how being a voracious reader as a child led him to writing, how he developed his unforgettable characters in his new novel, and why stamina is essential for authors.
Screenwriter and filmmaker Ed Gass-Donnelly—whose credits include “Beautiful City,” “Small Town Murder Songs,” and the recently released “Lavender”—talks to Sean Tuohy about his directing style, how “Lavender” evolved from the page to the screen, and the future of filmmaking and viewership.
Author and Writer’s Bone contributing editor David Joy talks to Daniel Ford about his accelerated writing process for his new novel The Weight of This World (out from Putnam today!), what he learned from the success of his debut Where All the Light Tends To Go , and why Appalachia is so misunderstood.
In the second installment of #NovelClass, Dave Pezza and Daniel Ford discuss Edie Meidav's Crawl Space.
Scott Frank, author of Shaker (which is now available in paperback) and screenwriter of "Logan," "Minority Report," and "Marley & Me," talks to Sean Tuohy about the joy of writing his novel and his varied screenwriting career.
Jason Rekulak, author of The Impossible Fortress , talks to Gary Almeter about where the idea for the book originated, how he used 1980s nostalgia to illuminate his characters’ personalities, and his admirably disciplined writing process.
Tess Callahan, author of April & Oliver , talks to Daniel Ford about how her family inspired her to become a storyteller, the genesis behind her Tedx Talk, “The Love Affair Between Creativity and Constraint,” her publishing journey, and what authors can learn from painting.
Trailblazing comedian Paul Rodriguez talks to Sean Tuohy about his military service, how he got his start in comedy, being known as “The Mexican Guy,” his favorite Hispanics in today’s stand-up comedy scene, and the television show he’s developing with his son and Cheech Marin.
Emily Ruskovich, author of Idaho , talks to Internal Review 's Adam Vitcavage about growing up in Idaho, the authors who influenced her work, and her future literary plans.
Michael Farris Smith, author of Rivers and the recently published Desperation Road , talks to Daniel Ford about his late entry into storytelling, his strict writing regimen, talking to his characters, and what inspired his new novel.
Screenwriter Larry Gross, whose credits include “48 Hrs.,” “Another 48 Hrs.,” “Streets of Fire,” “True Crime,” and “Prozac Nation,” talks to Sean Tuohy about growing up watching movies in New York City theaters, how he caught his break in Hollywood, his partnership with Walter Hill, his screenwriting process, and which of his filmmaking heroes he’d like to have dinner with.
Dan Zak, Washington Post reporter and author of Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age , talks to Rob Masiello and Sean Tuohy about what he learned while researching the book, the global response to nuclear weapons and their implications, and why reading newspapers is better than solely binging news on social media.
Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and the recently published Pachinko , talks to Daniel Ford about her path to storytelling, her intense research process, the global immigrant experience, and what inspired her new (and highly praised) novel.
