In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries … Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today!Is the novel dead? And maybe a more up-to-date version of that quest...
Oct 03, 2016•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special edition of the show, two writers joined me to opine the death of one of the most influential forms in the history of the written word. I posed the question that many great writers have pondered stretching across the last two centuries … Of course these are famous — almost cliche — theoretical discussions that writers often chew on over stiff drinks, and they raise hackles for those of us who adore them. What you won’t find here is a highbrow literary dissertation, or even a very ...
Sep 26, 2016•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Before kicking off the next season of the show, we wanted to share with you some highlights from our previous seasons. I don’t want to shortchange the most recent interviews with inspiring guests including Jay McInerney (’80s defining author of Bright Lights, Big City), Stephanie Danler (the bestselling author of Sweetbitter), the co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly, or How Neuroscientist Michael Grybko Defined Writer’s Block for us. But I do want to dig into the archives with you and pull ...
Sep 19, 2016•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver. Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.” The author is a renowned...
Aug 29, 2016•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The bestselling author of 11 books, including the eighties defining Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, took a break to chat with me about his new book, the writing process, and some timeless tips from his mentor, Raymond Carver. Vanity Fair called Mr. McInerney “Our modern-day Fitzgerald,” and his most recent book — Bright, Precious Days — is described as “… a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story — a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order.” The author is a renowned...
Aug 22, 2016•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star. Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world. Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a gen...
Aug 15, 2016•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast The instant national bestselling author of the acclaimed debut novel Sweetbitter, Stephanie Danler, stopped by the show to chat with me about her not-so-overnight success as a rising literary star. Ms. Danler signed a six-figure deal with Knopf for her first book, the coming-of-age story of a young woman transplanted into New York City’s upscale, cutthroat restaurant world. Bestselling author Jay McInerney called Sweetbitter “… a stunning debut novel, one that seems destined to help define a gen...
Aug 08, 2016•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist. Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier. Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optim...
Aug 01, 2016•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, stopped by the show to chat with me about his journey from travel journalist to famed futurist. Mr. Kelly’s storied and winding career has taken him around the world in search of visions of the new digital frontier. Kevin is a renowned TED speaker and author of multiple bestsellers including his latest, The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a title that offers an optim...
Jul 25, 2016•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers. Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint. If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How ...
Jul 18, 2016•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to another guest segment of ‘The Writer’s Brain’ where we pick the brain of a neuroscientist about the elements of great writing. This week’s show covers some possible origins and solutions to an ailment known only to writers. Research scientist Michael Grybko, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to help me pinpoint the mysteries of writer’s block from a scientific standpoint. If you missed the first three installments of The Writer’s Brain — on How ...
Jul 11, 2016•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Award-winning blogger, publishing consultant, and author Jane Friedman, took a moment to talk with me about her writing process and the business of scribes. Ms. Friedman is a digital media strategist with over 20 years in publishing, the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, an “… essential publishing industry newsletter for authors,” as well as the author of the book Publishing 101, an astute collection of essential insights for first time authors. In addition to her work as an accomplished b...
Jun 27, 2016•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Award-winning blogger, publishing consultant, and author Jane Friedman, took a moment to talk with me about her writing process and the business of scribes. Ms. Friedman is a digital media strategist with over 20 years in publishing, the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, an “… essential publishing industry newsletter for authors,” as well as the author of the book Publishing 101, an astute collection of insights for first time authors. In addition to her work as an accomplished blogger and...
Jun 20, 2016•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, spoke with me about her life before fiction and how she gets words on the page. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Ms. Sweeney’s winding journey to bestselling author began with a journalism degree and lead to a career in Marketing Communications as a freelance copywriter an...
Jun 13, 2016•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Instant New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, spoke with me about her life before fiction and how she gets words on the page. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Ms. Sweeney’s winding journey to bestselling author began with a journalism degree and lead to a career in Marketing Communications as a freelance copywriter an...
Jun 06, 2016•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of...
May 23, 2016•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York magazine’s “Ask Polly” advice columnist, Heather Havrilesky, stopped by the show to chat about her process and the many hats she has worn over her 20 year career as a critic, cartoonist, columnist, and essayist. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! The author s new book — How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly’s Guide Through the Paradoxes of...
May 16, 2016•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and...
May 09, 2016•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wildly prolific, bestselling novelist — Dean Wesley Smith — has been a full-time writer since the ’80s, and he made a visit to the show to talk about how he has written (and ghostwritten) hundreds of titles over the years. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! In edition to being the CFO of a traditional publisher, he is a non-fiction author, educator, and...
May 02, 2016•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in pap...
Apr 25, 2016•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gonzo essayist and creative non-fiction author — Kent Russell — dropped by to chat about his hybrid reportage on the margins of society, and the process of a big city, freelance journalist. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Russell’s critically lauded first collection — I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son — was recently re-released in pap...
Apr 18, 2016•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Busin...
Apr 04, 2016•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Author and entrepreneur-hacker — Jonny Nastor — dropped in this week to talk about the transition from podcast to bestselling book, and how he helps digital entrepreneurs and creatives find shortcuts to success. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Nastor is the author of the bestseller Hack the Entrepreneur: How to Stop Procrastinating, Build a Busin...
Mar 28, 2016•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Acclaimed horror author — Jonathan Janz — stopped by this week to talk about his passions, his workmanlike process as a writer, and the skeletons in his closet. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Award-winning horror and zombie maestro Brian Keene called Janz, “One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade.” In addition to be...
Mar 21, 2016•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Acclaimed horror author — Jonathan Janz — stopped by this week to talk about his passions, his workmanlike process as a writer, and the skeletons in his closet. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Award-winning horror and zombie maestro Brian Keene called Janz, “One of the best writers in modern horror to come along in the last decade.” In addition to be...
Mar 14, 2016•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast National bestselling poet — Tyler Knott Gregson — visited the podcast to discuss his writing process and his journey to finding success. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! The New York Times called Mr. Gregson “the literary equivalent of a unicorn: a best-selling celebrity poet.” His latest collection recently “… hit No. 3 on Nielsen s top 10 best-selli...
Mar 07, 2016•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prolific, international bestselling authorpreneur, Mark Dawson, dropped by to talk about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the productivity hacks that have helped him publish over 23 books. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Dawson’s multiple thriller series, and self-publishing savvy, have helped him to build a vast, hungry audienc...
Feb 29, 2016•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prolific, international bestselling authorpreneur, Mark Dawson, dropped by to talk about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the productivity hacks that have helped him publish over 23 books. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Mr. Dawson’s multiple thriller series, and self-publishing savvy, have helped him to build a vast, hungry audienc...
Feb 22, 2016•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast New York Times bestselling author and New Yorker columnist, Maria Konnikova, took a beat from her hectic schedule to talk with me about her new book and the writer’s process. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Her latest book — The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It . . . Every Time — examines the psychology of the con, and The New York Times Book Revi...
Feb 08, 2016•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Award-winning journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returned to the podcast and we got down to brass tacks about his writer’s journey, his new book, and the globetrotting life of a travel writer. Rainmaker.FM is Brought to You By Discover why more than 80,000 companies in 135 countries choose WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting. Start getting more from your site today! Adam’s first narrative nonfiction book — One Breath: Freediving, Death, and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits — was recently...
Feb 01, 2016•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast