Writer's Bone

Today’s guest is Amy Goldstein, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Washington Post and author of Janesville, An American Story. Goldstein sits down with Gary Almeter to discuss the time she spent in Janesville, Wisconsin, issues middle class communities face when work disappears, and the resilience she witnessed firsthand during her research process. Learn more about Amy Goldstein by visiting her official website or following her on Twitter @goldsteinamy.

Author Kristopher Jansma returns to the podcast! Jansma talks to Daniel Ford about Why We Came to the City coming out in paperback (May 2) and how his life and writing process have evolved since leaving New York City. Learn more about Kristopher Jansma by visiting his official website, liking his Facebook page, or following him on Twitter @KristopherJans. Also listen to Gary Almeter’s first interview with the author.

Chasing Portraits author and documentarian Elizabeth Rynecki talks to Daniel Ford about her emotional and personal project to find her Polish-Jewish great-grandfather’s paintings that were lost during World War II. To learn more about Elizabeth Rynecki, visit her official website, follow her blog, like her Facebook page, or follow her on Twitter @erynecki.

Carolyn Stotesbery, who plays Eli in John Shea’s “Grey Lady,” talks to Daniel Ford about her path to becoming an actress, how she got attached to “Grey Lady,” and what lessons she learned from the talented cast and crew.  “I just love telling stories," says Carolyn Stotesbery. “Grey Lady" premieres April 28. Learn more about Carolyn Stotesbery by visiting her official website, liking her Facebook page, and following her on Twitter (@CStotesbery) and Instagram (@carolynstotesbery).

Hollywood screenwriter William C. Martell talks to Sean Tuohy about how he broke into the movie business, his screenwriting process, and how he deals with rejection and changes to his scripts.  “What’s on your laptop screen is never going to be what’s on the cinema screen.”—William C. Martell To learn more about William C. Martell, check out his official website or follow him on Twitter @wcmartell. 

Julie Buntin, author of the recently published Marlena, talks to Daniel Ford about what inspired her debut novel, writing about the contrasts between her home state of Michigan and her adopted home in New York City, her publishing journey, and why aspiring writers should be willing to make mistakes.  “Follow the impulse, the urgency, the heat of your ideas without worrying about how they will be received,” says Buntin. To learn more about Julie Buntin, visit her official website or follow her on Twitter @juliebuntin.

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 author.

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 choosing novels for his crime fiction publishing company Brash Books, and what authors and television writers need to do to learn their craft.

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 time.” Josh Cook is the author of An Exaggerated Murder, which Kirkus Reviews called, “a beautifully written postmodern novel of deduction.”

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.