31 August 2025-"Peace is a Sly Thing"-The Life and Art of Tim O'Brien with author Alex Vernon

Our first guest is Alex Vernon author of Peace is a Shy Thing: The Life and Art of Tim O'Brien The first literary biography of Tim O'Brien, the preeminent American writer of the war in Vietnam and one of the best writers of his generation, drawing on never-before-seen materials and original interviews. "Vietnam made me a writer." ―Tim O'Brien Featuring over one hundred interviews with family, friends, peers, and others―not to mention countless exchanges with Tim O'Brien himself―Peace is a Shy Thing provides a nearly day-by-day, gripping account of O'Brien's thirteen months as an infantryman in Vietnam and gives equal diligence to reconstructing O'Brien's writing process. This meticulously researched biography explores the life and journey that turned O’Brien into a literary icon and a household name. It includes an unpublished short story about O'Brien from a college girlfriend, documentation of his comical involvement with the Washington Post's coverage of Watergate, and a 1989 attic exchange between American and Vietnamese writers on the eve of the publication of O'Brien's most beloved book, The Things They Carried, years before the two countries normalized relations. Peace is a Shy Thing is as much a history of the era as it is a story of O'Brien's life, from his small-town midwestern mid-century childhood, to winning the National Book Award and his status as literary elder statesman. A story which Vernon, a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a literary scholar trained by officers and professors of the Vietnam era, is uniquely suited to tell.2. Wayne Deloria, who is one of our performers at Radio on the River.Wayne DeLoria is a solo guitarist/vocalist, playing and singing selections from the 1960’s through today. He has been performing since the ‘70s with a repertoire that includes some older standards, folk, soft rock, country, as well as, contemporary alternative. Wayne’s influences include The Beatles, Elton John, The Kingston Trio, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffet, Zac Brown and others. His talents are ideal for parties and other events where background or featured music is desired. He presents with a full sound, including percussion, harmonies, and harmonica accompaniment. All music is performed live – no background recordings!Visit Wayne's website to learn more, hear clips, and find upcoming performances!3. Finally is Jim's interview with Joe Ortiz, a PuroClean franchise owner.