The Writer's Story

Kristin and Meredith talk with Natasha Joukovsky about her book, Medium Rare, her invention of the recursive estimation algorithm, and how she juggles her writing with a busy corporate career.

Meredith and Kristin talk about moderating panels at the recent Virginia Festival of the Book, and then discuss Ray Bradbury's entertaining book ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING as their writing "book club" continues.

Valerie Perreault, a Florida Keys resident whose visual artwork has appeared in all sorts of illustrious places, shares with Meredith and Kristin her journey of returning to her long-time creative love, poetry. Valerie's first book-length collection, Neon Pastoral has already garnered two awards and much acclaim. How she got there - lots of walking, literally! - captivates the podcast hosts and is sure to inspire listeners as well.  

It's a new year, and Kristin and Meredith have decided to use half their episodes in 2026 for a writing "book club". They'll be reading books about writing and sharing their thoughts. This month, they discuss the classic The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their writing projects and then get inspired by chatting with songwriter Susan Munson about her creative process.

Kristin and Meredith get together to celebrate the first novel release of Kristin Swenson's new four book historical series set in Babylon/Persia,  Howl of the Golden Jackal, on Amazon Kindle. Since recording the podcast, A Falcon Takes Flight and Beat the Kettledrum have also been released.

Meredith and Kristin talk about mixing genres, and then chat with Charlottesville poet Nin Andrews about her memoir in prose poems, Son of a Bird.

Kristin and Meredith talk about writing while traveling (or not), and then chat with author Jay Kauffmann about his book, The Mexican Messiah, inspired by his international travels when he worked as a model and travel writer.

Kristin and Meredith talk to two friends, Lisa and Bremond, who have started their own publishing company: Quite Literally Books. Their focus is "discovering and reissuing ought-to-be-in-print books by American women authors" that they love and feel deserve to be back in people's hands--and one their shelves--today.

Meredith and Kristin talk about their new multimedia projects, and then chat with Meredith's former blogging partner from the Debutante Ball, Kristina Riggle about her writing journey and her latest book, VIVIAN IN RED.

Meredith and Kristin talk about pacing and shorter attention spans, and then chat with Charlotte Matthews about her newest book of noticings. Charlotte also talks about her writing method for essays and poems.

Kristin and Meredith talk about writing during the holiday season and interview Dean King, bestselling author of Skeletons on the Zahara. They discuss his most recent book Guardians of the Valley, and how he writes and researches his books.

It's a popular question that writers get a lot when they're on tour: where do you get your ideas? Kristin and Meredith like the question, and attempt to answer it for a few of their books.

Kristin and Meredith discuss their complicated feelings about social media, and how they've seen writers use it to help (or hurt) their sales/craft. 

Virginia Pye returns to talk with Kristin and Meredith about her latest historical novel, THE LITERARY UNDOING OF VICTORIA SWANN. They talk about publishing in the Gilded Era, and how many of the issues that women and women writers had then still resonate today.

Kristin and Meredith talk about filling up their creative well and share great writing advice they've received.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their literary adventures and travels, and then chat with author Tim Wendel about REBEL FALLS, his historical novel set on the Canadian border during the Civil War.

Kristin and Meredith chat with an old friend of Meredith's (from her Brooklyn days), Dina Honour. Dina talks about her journey to becoming a published author, her life as an expatriate, and her essay collection, There’s Some Place Like Home: Lessons From a Decade Abroad, as well as her memoir, It’s a Lot to Unpack.    

Katrin Schumann (author of the novel This Terrible Beauty and Program Director for the Key West Literary Seminar and Workshops) joins Meredith and Kristin. Katrin shares thoughts on craft such as plotting a novel (she's at work on new historical fiction) and what it's like to wear several hats (check out The Curious Kat on Substack, making connections through creative expression!).  

Kristin and Meredith talk about using their life experiences in their fiction and then chat with author Julia Ridley Smith about her short story collection Sex Romp Gone Wrong.

Kristin and Meredith talk about revising books they've been working on for a long time, and interview author Steve Weddle about his writing journey and new book The County Line, an Amazon First Reads selection.  

For their 50th episode, Kristin and Meredith reflect on a year of writing and exciting guests in 2023.

Kristin and Meredith talk about how hard it is for them to write short stories (and why), and then interview friend and author Jody Hobbs Hesler about her short story collection What Makes You Think You're Supposed to Feel Better.

Kristin and Meredith discuss the different publishing options for books these days, and then welcome friend and author BettyJoyce Nash to the podcast. BettyJoyce's first novel, Everyone Here is Kin, is out this month.

Kristin and Meredith talk about genre, and then chat with writer and agent Marie Lamba about balancing writing with agenting and how conferences can help you connect to agents and other writers. Marie writes YA and children's books, and is an agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.

Kathryn Erskine, our very first guest is back with new adventures to share! Celebrated author of many books for young readers (including National Book Award winning Mockingbird), Kathy, a.k.a. S. G. Lindisfarne is striking out incognito-ish with Compounding Solutions , a cozy mystery for adults. Meredith and Kristin were all ears - and questions - about the pen-name, the process of independently publishing a novel, and about the story itself.  

Kristin and Meredith talk about books as objects. They are joined by Kevin McFadden, poet, letterpress printer, book artist, and member of the creative community at Virginia Center for the Book in Charlottesville. Kevin talks about creating a unique book of pandemic poetry and reads from his collection.

Location, location... schmlocation? Meredith and Kristin talk setting, particularly how the site of a writer's creative work affects her writing. Or doesn't. Enter Trudy Hale, this month's guest - a writer herself, editor-in-chief of Streetlight magazine, and the woman behind the storied Porches Writing Retreat. Trudy tells about her writing journey from L.A. to rural VA and points between, and gives a sneak peek behind the magic of the old farmhouse turned artists' haven in Nelson County, VA. 

Kristin and Meredith talk about the value of attending literary festivals as a writer (and as a reader) and interview special guest Kalela Williams. Kalela is the new director of the Virginia Center for the Book which oversees the Virginia Festival of the Book, as well as the author of a YA book (coming 2024) The Tangleroot Papers. They discuss upcoming events at the next festival (March 23-26, 2023) as well as her plans for future festivals.

Kristin and Meredith launch the new year with a new podcast angle: topic or theme. This month's is point of view (POV to you writers out there). What is it? How does it affect the story in writing and reading,...? Guest Katharine Herndon joins in the conversation and also shares her experiences with Richmond, VA-based James River Writers, from attending every (!) annual conference as a writer herself to serving in recent years as the organization's Executive Director. 

Kristin and Meredith talk about self-imposed deadlines and celebrating small wins with your writing community. Their guest is Mary Alice Hostetter, author of the memoir PLAIN: A MEMOIR OF A MENNONITE GIRLHOOD. She talks about her life and her path to publication.

Kristin and Meredith talk about using their iPhone to record their writing ideas when they're away from the computer. Fran Hawthorne is their guest this month, and she talks about her writing journey from journalist to novelist. Her latest novel, I MEANT TO TELL YOU, will be out in November.

Kristin and Meredith discuss beta readers and how to select good ones for your manuscript, and then chat with Sibley Johns, a writer and the Executive Director of WriterHouse. WriterHouse is a space in Charlottesville, Virginia dedicated to the craft of writing, and has writing classes (online and in-person), programs, and readings. Meredith teaches occasionally at WriterHouse, and both she and Kristin have had book events in the space. 

Meredith and Kristin recount experiences and lessons learned on their recent writing retreat in the beautiful Goshen Pass. Tune in for tips on organizing and enjoying your own such creative adventure!

The incalculable value of reading suffused this month's conversation with guest Maya Smart, whose new book Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six reflects her passion for growing literacy as it gives busy parents (and grands and aunts and uncles and) practical tools to help raise happy readers. We talked deep-dive research and the challenge of putting it into the hands of non-specialists in the context of the life-changing skill and pleasure that is reading. 

Meredith and Kristin talk endings - how do you know you're done?,... enough to start over, revising and all - and other crafty bits. Then Outside mag and National Geographic writer, Stephanie Pearson, joins us to talk about her new 100 Great American Parks book, which can't help but leave readers feeling oh-so-lucky to live in this wonder-ful, beautiful, care-worthy world.

Kristin and Meredith talk about secondary characters in stories, and chat with guest Alma Katsu about her new book THE FERVOR, historic fiction with supernatural and horror elements. They also talk about her thriller RED WIDOW, based on her career in intelligence, and her recent television deal.

Martien Halvorson-Taylor, professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia joins Meredith and Kristin in conversation about writing and the Bible - writing about the Bible, writing in the Bible, and Martien's Great Courses on Audible course, Writing the Bible. Writing as an act of discovery and angles on translation, it's a conversation that tracks along many levels.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their latest projects, and the pros and cons of using software like Scrivener to write your novel. They're joined by author Ellen Crosby, the author of the Virginia wine country mystery series; who Meredith has known for years. Ellen's newest book BITTER ROOTS is out April 5, 2022.

Virginia Pye, author of two novels and  a collection of short stories The Shelf Life of Happiness, joins Meredith and Kristin in conversation about the hows and whys of community in writing (and surviving snow). She shares encouragement and advice with her inspiring story of "overnight success" following decades of honing her craft and building relationships. 

Kristin and Meredith look back on the books they've read this year that have influenced their writing and thinking about creativity. They also catch listeners up to date on new books for past guests.

Kristin and Meredith discuss revising and writing conferences, and interview Irene Ziegler--writer, actor, and voice-over artist. They talk about her varied body of work and how her acting influences her writing.

Kristin and Meredith talk about revision and deepening the emotion (and upping the stakes) for their characters. They interview Michael Cordell, screenwriter, playwright and novelist, whose legal thriller CONTEMPT came out last year. He has a new paranormal thriller out, OUR TRESPASSES.

Kristin and Meredith talk about their writing projects, puppies and broken arms, and then interview writer and friend Jocelyn Nicole Johnson on her stunning debut "My Monticello." The book is making a splash before its October pub date: It's been covered in the New York Times, is being made into a Netflix movie and has already garnered an award nomination.

Meredith and Kristin talk writing one-handed, and Earl Swift shares his journey from journalism in its heyday to writing page-turning nonfiction on a wide range of topics. His new book, ACROSS THE AIRLESS WILDS: THE LUNAR ROVER AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE FINAL MOON LANDINGS is just out with HarperCollins. 

Kristin and Meredith discuss the pros and cons of writing while you're on vacation, and chat with Mollie Cox Bryan about her cookbooks, mysteries and other writing. They also discuss indie publishing for cozy mysteries, and her latest book Goodnight Moo.

Kristin and Meredith talk gardens, productivity and inspiration this month. They also chat with poet Rebecca Morgan Frank about high school, writing a poem for a collection, her recent book Oh You Robot Saints! and her recent collaborations with composers.

This month Kristin and Meredith talk spring, vaccines, and revising. They chat with Alex Segura, author of novels, comic books, short stories and podcasts, about how he juggles different genres and small children. He also talks about the pros and cons of collaboration, working for hire and keeping a series going forever.

Meredith and Kristin talk about reviving projects, when, and how to decide which to tackle, before talking issues, environment, animals and more with writer and publisher, John Yunker co-founder with writer Midge Raymond of Ashland Creek Press and EcoLit Books blog. He's the author of plays, essays, and the novels The Tourist Trail and Where Oceans Hide Their Dead.

Co-host Kristin Swenson's got a new book out! And Meredith's on the spot with questions and thoughts of her own in this lively discussion between the two of them. They catch up on novels-in-progress and talk about how it's been releasing A Most Peculiar Book: The Inherent Strangeness of the Bible (Oxford UP).