Inside the Writer's Studio
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New York Times bestseller Charlie Lovett talks with writers about their lives, their craft, their business, and their latest work.
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Sep 15, 2023
Megan Miranda (9/15/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #122
Ahead of her appearance at the 2023 Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem on September 23, Charlie talks to Megan Miranda about her novel, The Only Survivors. They discuss structuring a thriller, setting, writing about a tight group of characters, the impact of trauma, the book industry, and more.
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Aug 31, 2023
John Connolly (9/1/23) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #121
John Connolly joins Charlie all the way from Ireland to talk about The Land of Lost Things, the long awaited follow-up to his The Book of Lost Things. John will be at the 2023 Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors in Winston-Salem. He and Charlie discuss fairy tales and folklore, ritual, the importance of books, paradox, humor, and much more.
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Aug 14, 2023
Alice Bell (8/15/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #120
Charlie talks to UK mystery writer Alice Bell about her new novel Grave Expectations. They discuss Dickens, Agatha Christie, humor in murder mysteries, ghosts, chapter structure, police procedurals, and much more.
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Jul 31, 2023
Dwyer Murphy (8/1/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #119
Charlie talks with Dwyer Murphy about his new noir thriller The Stolen Coast. They discuss small town New England, the use of dialogue, basketball, the noir aesthetic, and the imagination that goes into planning a heist.
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Jul 14, 2023
Elizabeth Silver (7/15/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #118
Charlie talks with novelist Elizabeth Silver about her new book The Majority—inspired by the life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. They talk about the intersection of law and narrative, choosing the moments to dramatize in a historical novel, the Holocaust, women's rights, and much more.
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Apr 14, 2023
J. Ryan Stradal (4/14/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #117
Charlie talks with bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal about his new novel Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club. They discuss midwestern novels, how to begin a novel, the structure of chapters, creating characters, and of course the culture of the supper club.
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Mar 31, 2023
Charlie Lovett, R. L. Green Lecture (4/1/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #116
Something a little different this episode, Charlie shares his "Thoughts on Scholarship" in the annual Roger Lancelyn Green lecture delivered on the occasion of the publication of his new biography of the author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll: Formed by Faith. Charlie's groundbreaking religious biography of Carroll provides examples for his advice to researchers, historians, and scholars.
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Mar 15, 2023
Laurell K. Hamilton (3/14/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #115
Charlie talks with Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series about the latest installment, Smolder. They discuss the challenges of sustaining a series, creating a long-range character arc, the combination of hard boiled detective with paranormal, the importance of therapy, and more.
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Feb 14, 2023
Steve Berry (2/15/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #114
Charlie talks with internationally best-selling author Steve Berry about his latest Cotton Malone adventure The Lost Kingdom. Steve talks about using history in a contemporary thriller and gives great advice on everything from starting chapters to using setting, researching historical figures, pacing a thriller and more.
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Jan 31, 2023
Kate Alice Marshall (2/1/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #113
Charlie talks with Alice Kate Marshall about her new adult thriller What Lies in the Woods. They discuss writing characters at different ages, setting as a reflection of theme, finding voice and crafting point of view, writing for different audiences, magic, and much more.
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Jan 14, 2023
Brad Meltzer (1/15/2023) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #112
Charlie talks with bestselling author of thrillers, tv writer, and historian Brad Meltzer about his new book The Nazi Conspiracy—about a plot to assassinate Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at the height of WWII. They discuss research, structure, storytelling, and the relevance of books like The Nazi Conspiracy to the world we live in today.
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Nov 14, 2022
Lauren Nossett (11/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #111
Charlie talks with debut novelist Lauren Nossett about her new work of dark academia, The Resemblance. They discuss the genre as well as life on campus, Greek life, investigative techniques, writing prologues, and much more.
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Oct 31, 2022
Kate Forsyth (11/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #110
Charlie chats with Australian best selling novelist Kate Forsyth about her latest historical novel, The Crimson Thread, set on Crete during the Nazi occupation. They discuss writing historical novels, ancient mythology, finding hidden WW II stories, and mush more.
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Oct 14, 2022
Sandra Brown (10/15/22) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #109
Charlie talks with 73-time NYT bestseller Sandra Brown about her latest novel, Overkill. They discuss structuring thrillers, pacing, writing villains, the terrible trouble, the North Carolina Mountains, and much more.
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Sep 30, 2022
Charlie Lovett/Frank Morelli The Book of the Seven Spells (10/1/22) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #108
Author of middle grade books Frank Morelli takes over the microphone to interview Charlie about his new middle grade novel The Book of the Seven Spells, a fast-paced adventure about four children who discover a magical library.
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Sep 15, 2022
Scott Turow (9/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #107
Ahead of their appearance at the Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem, Charlie and Scott discuss Scott's new novel Suspect, touching on everything from what makes a thriller to rapid character development, creating villains, the American legal system, and more.
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Aug 31, 2022
Anne Bogel/Charlie Lovett (9/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #106
Anne Bogel (aka Modern Mrs. Darcy) interviews Charlie about his new novel The Enigma Affair. Anne (host of the What Should I Read Next podcast) asks Charlie about surprises, research, writing thrillers, and of course she puts him on the hot seat with the ten questions.
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Aug 14, 2022
Grady Hendrix (8/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #105
Charlie talks with horror novelist Grady Hendrix about his new novel How to Sell a Haunted House. They discuss the history and development of the horror genre, family dynamics, the use of humor, structuring a novel, pacing, and why dolls and puppets are just so darn creepy.
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Jul 31, 2022
Jamie Ford (8/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #104
Charlie returns from summer vacation to talk with bestselling author Jamie Ford about his new novel The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, a sweeping story about the things we inherit from our ancestors. They talk about mixing historical fiction and speculative fiction, the Chinese experience in America, cliffhangers, what America means, and much more.
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Jun 14, 2022
Geraldine Brooks (6/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #103
Charlie talks with Pulitzer Prize winer Geraldine Brooks about her new novel horse and its inspiration, a nineteenth century American racehorse. They discuss structuring a novel across multiple time frames. capturing the voice of a past era, race in America, the history of horse racing, and much more,
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May 31, 2022
Elle Cosimano (6/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #102
Charlie talks with Elle about her Finlay Donovan books. They talk plotting, murder, body disposal, character building, the genesis of Finlay, motherhood, divorce, Writers' Police Academy, and mixing humor and crime in books about a single mom recruited to be a contract killer.
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May 14, 2022
Lauren McBrayer (5/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #101
Charlie talks with Lauren McBrayer about her new novel Like a House on Fire in which protagonist Merit must understand her feelings towards her boss Jane. They discuss the search for identity, female friendship, religion, sensory detail and much more about this wonderful novels that explores relationships from parenthood to professional.
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Apr 30, 2022
Kyle Lukoff (5/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #100
Charlie talks with Kyle Lukoff about his new middle grade novel Different Kinds of Fruit. They talk about writing LGBTQ characters, getting into the emotional headspace of sixth graders, layering secondary and tertiary characters, structure, family dynamics, and much more.
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Apr 14, 2022
Annie Hartnett (4/15/22) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #99
Charlie talks with Annie Hartnett about her new novel Unlikely Animals. They discuss depicting small towns, using magical realism, narrative voice and point of view, and the background of this fascinating novel—a 26,000 acre private wildlife preserve called Corbin Park. And of course, they discuss animals!
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Mar 14, 2022
Roddy Doyle (3/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #98
Charlie talks with Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle about his new book of short stories Life Without Children. They talk about Irish storytelling, Dublin, the pandemic, the craft of short story writing, the difference between incident and story, and much more.
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Feb 28, 2022
Ruta Sepetys (3/1/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #97
Charlie talks to best-selling author Ruta Sepetys about her new crossover novel I Must Betray You, set in Romania just before the fall of communism. They discuss Eastern European history, what it was like to live in communist Romania, how Ruta researched such a repressive regime, how authoritarianism robs children of their childhood, and more.
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Feb 14, 2022
Josie Silver (2/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #96
Charlie talks with bestselling author Josie Silver about her new novel One Night on the Island—the talk about romance tropes and subverting them, setting a narrative in a remote location, researching during COVID, building strong secondary characters, and more.
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Jan 31, 2022
Fiona Davis (2/1/2021) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #95
Charlie talks to historical novelist Fiona Davis about her novel The Magnolia Palace, set largely at the Frick Museum in New York City in 1919 and 1966. They discuss (among other things) New York, researching historical details, the place of the model in society, and the amazing true story of Audrey Munson, the artists' model who served as the basis for one of the heroines in Fiona's novel.
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Jan 14, 2022
Kerri Maher (1/15/2022) Inside the Writer’s Studio Episode #94
Charlie starts off the new year talking with historical novelist Kerri Maher about her new novel The Paris Bookseller, a fascinating and moving account of Sylvia Beach and her famous store Shakespeare and Company. They discuss Beach's publication of Ulysses by James Joyce, the place of expatriates like Ernest Hemingway in 1920s Paris, the role of bookstores in society and much more.
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Dec 1, 2021
Elizabeth Weiss (12/1/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #93
Charlie talks to debut novelist Elizabeth Weiss about her novel Sisters Sweet which follows the lives of twin sisters as they navigate the world of vaudeville in the 1920s and 1930s. They discuss theatre history, writing about twins, changing technology, religion, family and more.
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Nov 14, 2021
Sophie Cousens (9/15/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #92
Charlie chats with Sophie Cousens, author of the romantic comedy Just Haven't Met You Yet, about living on the island of Jersey in the English Channel, the connection between place and story, the meaning of objects in our lives, the preservation of stories, humor in the inner lives of characters, positivity in the face of difficulties, and more.
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Oct 31, 2021
Rex Pickett (11/1/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #91
Charlie talks with screenwriter and novelist Rex Pickett about his new novel The Archivist. They discuss the place of an archivist in the life of a writer, southern California, the thorny issues of archival ethics, adapting novels for the screen and screenplays into novels, the support networks writers depend on, writing strong women characters, and more.
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Oct 14, 2021
Sophie Kinsella (10/15/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #90
Charlie talks with British novelist Sophie Kinsella about her new book The Party Crasher. They discuss family dynamics, writing humor, confining the action to a single place and time, the character arc of a house, how to humanize even unlikeable characters, the advantages of a first person narrative, and much more.
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Sep 30, 2021
Lauren Groff (10/1/21) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #89
Fresh on the heels of Lauren's appearance at the Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, Charlie and Lauren discuss her new novel Matrix about the poet Marie de France. They discuss religion, economics, feminism, queer history, poetry, royalty, mysticism, and how all those elements combine to create an unforgettable novel.
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Sep 15, 2021
Wylie Cash (9/16/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #88
Charlie talks with fellow North Carolina novelist about his new novel When Ghosts Come Home. The talk about issues of race and class, how to use backstory to create pacing, how tragedy magnifies the details of life, creating believable minor characters, emotion in writing, making a setting resonate with readers, and much more. Wylie and Charlie will also share the stage at the Bookmarks Festival on September 25.
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Aug 31, 2021
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray (9/1/2021) Inside the Writer‘s Studio Episode #87
Charlie talks with Marie and Victoria about their historical novel The Personal Librarian, the story of a trailblazing black woman who passed for white while building one of the most significant book collections in the world—now the Morgan Library and Museum. They discuss race in historical fiction, creating characters out of real people, the antiquarian book world, how two authors worked together to create one book, and much more about this fascinating historical novel.
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Jul 31, 2021
Shari Lapena (8/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #86
Charlie chats with Canadian mystery writer Shari Lapena about her new novel Not a Nice Family. They discuss managing information in a mystery, family dynamics, the art of crafting chapter endings, and much more about the murder, dysfunction, and suspicion within the family at the center of this page-turner.
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Jul 14, 2021
Matt Haig (7/15/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #85
Charlie talks with Matt Haig all the way from England about his bestselling novel The Midnight Library and his more recent non-fiction The Comfort Book. They discuss connections between the two books, the importance of hope, the ways in which depression and mental illness bubble up in Matt's work, the general fabulousness of libraries, and much more.
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Jun 30, 2021
Steven Petrow (7/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #84
Charlie talks with journalist, essayist, and columnist Steven Petrow about his book Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old and about what it means to be a Civilist and a Perennial. They discuss humor, aging, voice in personal essays, structure, a writer's relationship with readers, and the stuff they both plan on not doping as they get older (which is happening fast!).
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Jun 14, 2021
Paul Rudnick (6/15/21) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #83
Charlie talks with Paul Rudnick, screenwriter for Sister Act and In and Out, about his new novel Playing the Palace, a gay romance with a happy ending. They discuss the progress made on queer issues since In and Out, the cult of celebrity, writing humor, and the sheer fun of writing some of the scenes in this delightful novel.
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May 31, 2021
Christine Mangan (6/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #82
Charlie talks with bestselling novelist Christine Mangan about her new novel Palace of the Drowned. They discuss setting a novel in Venice, using detail to create character and setting, the author/editor relationship, what authors think of reviews and much more.
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May 14, 2021
Shelley Nolden (5/15/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #81
Shelley and Charlie discuss her debut novel The Vines, much of which is set on North Brother Island—a spot that also features in Charlie's Escaping Dreamland. They explore the overlaps between their respective novels; discuss themes of ethics, isolation, and identity; explore the history of North Brother and the appeal of island literature; and generally have a good time comparing novels.
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Apr 30, 2021
Elizabeth George (5/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #80
Charlie talks with best-selling mystery writer Elizabeth George about her book on writing, Mastering the Process. They discuss their mutual affection for writing books set in Britain and take a close look at the development of setting and character in writing a novel.
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Apr 15, 2021
Bryan Christy (4/15/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #79
Charlie talks with former National Geographic investigative reporter Bryan Christy about his debut novel, the international thriller In the Company of Killers. They discuss Bryan's long journey to novel writing, how investigative journalism can make a difference in the world, the criminal underworld, the classic image of American toxic masculinity, and more.
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Mar 31, 2021
Lisa Scottoline (4/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #78
Charlie and Lisa discuss her historical novel Eternal, set in Rome during the rise and fall of Italian fascism. Lisa shares background about the history of the Italian Holocaust and talks about story telling, setting, historical research, family dynamics, and the torn loyalties that can be brought about in an authoritarian state. We basically have a lot of fun talking about this terrific novel.
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Mar 14, 2021
Jill Santopolo (3/15/21) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #77
Charlie and Jill discuss here new novel Everything After touching on a wide range of topics from marriage to intimacy, pregnancy and miscarriage to the decisions we have made in our past and how we see those choices when we look back on them. Jill's thoughtful exploration of love, music, and the paths of our lives leads to a great conversation.
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Mar 1, 2021
Carol Edgarian (3/1/21) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #76
Charlie talks with NYT bestselling author Carol Edgarian about her latest novel, Vera, set before, during, and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake—an event that also shows up in Charlie's novel Escaping Dreamland. They discuss not just earthquakes but racism, powerful women, the way disasters shape us and challenge us, how we learn from our characters, Enrico Caruso, and what Carol calls "the wrong rightness of characters."
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Feb 14, 2021
Erika Robuck (2/15/21) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #75
Charlie talks with historical novelist and longtime friend Erika Robuck about her new novel The Invisible Woman, which follows the exploits of Virginia Hall, an Allied operative who, despite having lost a leg, worked behind enemy lines during World War II. They discuss research, bravery, and the fine line between fiction and non-fiction along with many other topics.
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Jan 31, 2021
John Hart (2/1/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #74
John talks with thriller writer and fellow Davidson College graduate John Hart about his new novel The Unwilling. They discuss the craft of the crime thriller, building characters, recreating a recent historical time period, what makes a memorable villain, family dynamics and more.
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Jan 14, 2021
Melanie Benjamin (1/15/2021) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #73
Back from the holidays, Charlie talks with historical novelist and NYT bestseller Melanie Benjamin about her new book The Children's Blizzard. They discuss historical research, cultural portrayal, connecting historical characters to contemporary issues, and just how cold it can get on the Great Plains.
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Dec 2, 2020
Alexander McCall Smith (12/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #72
Charlie talks with international best selling author Alexander McCall Smith about Africa, Scotland, The Number 1 Ladies Detective Angency, the latest book in that series How to Raise an Elephant, and the perennial popular heroine Precious Ramotswe and her philosophy of life.
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Nov 14, 2020
Mike Lenz (11/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #71
Charlie chats with audiobook reader Mike Lenz about how Mike made the move from running a pharmacy and being a mayor to having a career as a voice over artist. Mike recorded Charlie's novel Escaping Dreamland, and they discuss the process of recording an audiobook, the relationship between author and reader, and all the elements of writing—from punctuation to pacing—that a good audiobook narrator is tuned into.
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Oct 31, 2020
Bryan Washington (11/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #70
Debut novelist Bryan Washington stops by (via Zoom) to chat with Charlie about Bryan's new novel Memorial. They discuss racism, cultural diversity, the city of Houston, queer literature, and more.
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Oct 14, 2020
Dean Koontz (10/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #69
Charlie talks with internationally bestselling author Dean Koontz about his new thriller, Elsewhere. They discuss science, parallel universes, imagination, the discipline of the writer. character development, and more.
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Sep 29, 2020
Rudy Ruiz (10/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #68
Charlie talks with debut author Rudy Ruiz about his novel The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez. They discuss the bi-cultural nature of the US/Mexico border, magical realism, the Spanish language, Fulgencio as tragic hero, and much more.
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Sep 14, 2020
Modern Mrs. Darcy/Charlie Lovett (Escaping Dreamland) 9/19/2020 Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #67
Anne Bogel (a.k.a. The Modern Mrs. Darcy) guest hosts to interview Charlie about his new novel Escaping Dreamland. They discuss the power of stories, the truth behind The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, researching historical New York City and much more. And, for the first time, Charlie himself is subjected to the "ten questions"!
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Aug 31, 2020
Henry Winkler (9/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #66
Charlie talks with film and television actor Henry Winkler about his enormously successful books for children, including the Hank Zipzer series. Winkler, though his books and personal appearances, is an advocate for children with dyslexia and learning differences and he and Charlie discuss the challenges of living with dyslexia, the importance of education and parent support, and Charlie's alma mater Summit School, which has had special programs for students with learning differences since the 1950s.
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Jul 31, 2020
Kevin Kwan (8/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #65
Charlie talks with the Crazy Rich Asians author about his new book, Sex and Vanity. They discuss the influences of islands like Capri, Manhattan, and Long Island; the world of the super-rich; the relationship between wealth, art, and beauty; the novels of E. M. Forster as a precursor to Kwan's work, and the joy of Italian food.
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Jul 15, 2020
Steven Wright (7/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #64
Charlie talks with Steven Wright about his book The Coyotes of Carthage, a novel of American political scheming. They discuss not just politics and voting rights and collateral damage wrought by the criminal justice system but also race and writing. How does a novel written more than a year ago take on new relevance in the current political climate, the pandemic, and the wake of the BLM movement? Tune in to find out.
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Jun 30, 2020
Steven Rowley (7/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #63
Charlie talks with Steven Rowley, author of The Editor, a novel in which a young man sells his first novel and discovers that his editor of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. They discuss writing historical figures as characters, researching an intensely private person, autobiographical fiction, the challenges of recent historical fiction, and of course much about the former first lady herself.
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Jun 14, 2020
Benjamin Taylor (6/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #62
Charlie talks with Ben Taylor, author of the deeply personal and meditative Here We Are: My Friendship with Philip Roth. Taylor talks of his relationship with one of the great American novelist of the past half century and the conversation covers the nature of memoirs and novels, the place of humor in Roth's life and works, the heyday of the celebrity author, the manipulation of "reality" to create art, and more. IWS also launches its new affiliation with audiobook platform Libro.fm. For a special 3 for 1 offer and to support Bookmarks or your local indie with you audiobook purchases click here.
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May 31, 2020
Sue Monk Kidd (6/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #61
Charlie talks with Sue about her new book The Book of Longings in which the main character, Ana, is married to Jesus. They discuss religion, Galilean art and architecture, writing technology of the first century, and the place of women in the time of Christ—and how that position echoes across the centuries to today.
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May 14, 2020
Emily St. John Mandel (5/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #60
Charlie visits with Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven and the recently published The Glass Hotel about looking back on a book about a global flu pandemic, how novels get started, the art of coincidence, international shipping, Ponzi schemes, and much more.
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Apr 30, 2020
Tom Clavin (5/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #59
Charlie talks with NYT bestselling nonfiction author Tom Clavin about his new book Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell. They discuss the enduring mythos (and reality) of the American western frontier as well as how to create nonfiction characters, the influence of Hollywood, and even a little bit about another pillar of American mythology—baseball.
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Apr 14, 2020
Chris Bohjalian (4/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #58
Charlie and Chris discuss The Red Lotus, a thriller that has taken on unexpected relevance because it deals with a potential pandemic in New York City. They discuss Chris's research (from emergency rooms to Vietnam), how to choose a great title, what sort of books make good films, the role of the publicist in the life of a writer, and much more.
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Mar 31, 2020
Neil Shubin (4/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #57
Charlie talks with science writer Neil Shubin about the history of genetic science as revealed in Neil's new book Some Assembly Required. From Darwin to DNA with lots of fascinating stories in between Neil helps us not understand not only where we came from as a species but the stories of the men and women who discovered, and continue to discover, the secrets of our evolutionary journey.
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Mar 14, 2020
Erik Larson (3/15/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #56
Charlie talks with the author of The Devil and the White City and Dead Wake about his brilliant new non-fiction book The Splendid and the Vile, which details the first year of Winston Churchill's prime ministry. They discuss not just Churchill, leadership, and the blitz but the similarities between fiction and non-fiction, how Erik picks a topic, how he found new materials on such a frequently researched topic, and how to bring history alive through the eyes of the real people who experienced it.
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Feb 29, 2020
Timothy Reinhardt (3/1/2020) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #55
Charlie talks with novelist and screenwriter Timothy Reinhardt, author of the novel Jesus's Brother James, about writing for the page and for the screen. They discuss putting yourself in a character's shoes, writing humor, the influence of Tim's growing up near a monastery, and Tim's unique way of drafting a novel.
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Feb 14, 2020
Jason Mott (2/15/20) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #54
Charlie talks with New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott author of The Returned, which was adapted as the television series Resurrection. They discuss Jason's latest book The Crossing and topics range from the appeal of dystopian literature to drawing inspiration from classical mythology to writing about twins.
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Jan 31, 2020
Amy K. Green (2/1/20) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #53
Charlie talks with debut novelist Amy K. Green about her murder thriller The Prized Girl. They discuss pacing, dysfunctional families, secrets, multiple points of view and more as they talk about this novel of two half-sisters—one murdered before the first page and one determined to find the killer of the sister she never really knew.
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Jan 14, 2020
Michael Huie (1/15/20) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #52
Charlie talks with his old friend Michael Huie about Michael's debut spy thriller Spitfire. They discuss the French Resistance, the genre of the espionage novel, and the creative life that actor, playwright, journalist, teacher, and father Huie has pursued. Michael will appear at the Bookmarks Moveable Feast in Winston-Salem on February 8 & 9, 2020.
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Dec 14, 2019
Jeff Lindsay (12/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #51
Charlie talks with the creator of Dexter, the basis for the hit TV series, about his newest novel, Just Watch Me, which launches a new series and a new hero, master thief Riley Wolfe. They discuss anti-heroes, planning a heist, how current events can shape readers' view of a novel, and much more.
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Nov 30, 2019
Robin Cook (12/1/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #50
For a special 50th episode, Charlie talks with internationally bestselling author Robin Cook, who created the genre of the medical thriller with his 1977 novel Coma. Thirty-six novels later, Robin has written Genesis, a novel that uses the thriller format to explore the use of DNA in crime fighting. The discussion covers medicine, character development, plotting, why the thriller is a great medium to discuss public policy, and much more.
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Nov 14, 2019
Chandler Baker (11/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #49
Charlie chats with Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of The Whisper Network—a work place thriller set against the background of #MeToo—about making the transition from YA to adult novels, the hidden (and no so hidden) secrets of women in the corporate world, and the challenges of balancing a age turning thriller with a true life behind the curtain look at workplace politics.
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Oct 31, 2019
Modern Mrs. Darcy/Charlie Lovett (The Bookman's Tale) (11/1/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #48
Anne Bogel, aka The Modern Mrs. Darcy, chose Charlie's novel The Bookman's Tale for her October Book Club read. Anne came to Winston-Salem to interview Charlie live at Bookmarks in front of an audience of about 150 and her interview makes up this special episode of the podcast.
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Oct 14, 2019
Becky Chambers (10/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #47
Charlie talks with recent Bookmarks Festival presenter and Hugo Award winning science fiction author Becky Chambers about (you guessed it) both science and fiction. They look at how sci-fi can explore the human condition and how humans might explore the universe, all through a discussion of Becky's lovely novella To Be Taught if Fortunate. Trust us, you don't have to like science fiction to love Becky, this book, and this episode!
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Sep 30, 2019
Téa Obreht (10/01/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #46
At the Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors in Winston-Salem, Charlie talks with Orange Prize winner Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger's Wife, about her acclaimed new novel, Inland. Charlie and Téa talk about the immigrant experience (both in real life and in fiction), the Arizona Territory, magical realism, and Téa's beautiful style of writing.
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Sep 14, 2019
Dave Cullen (9/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #45
Charlie talks with Dave Cullen, author of Columbine, about his latest book, Parkland: Birth of a Movement. They discuss the student activism based in Parkland, Florida that grew up following a school shooting there in 2018. They also touch on the place of a journalist, theatre as therapy, and Dave's book in progress about two gay men in the US Army.
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Aug 31, 2019
Casey Cep (9/1/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #44
Casey joins Charlie to discuss her new book, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. Casey talks about this fascinating excursion first into a bizarre and forgotten multiple murder case in Alabama and second into the story of how Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, almost made this case her own version of In Cold Blood. Southern history, racial justice, writer's block, and literary legacies combine for a great discussion and a great read.
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Aug 14, 2019
Sarah Blake (8/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #43
Charlie talks with the New York Times bestselling author of The Postmistress about her sweeping new family saga of a novel, The Guest Book. In discussing this tale of a wealthy American family across several generations, they encounter topics such as how the past speaks to us and through us, how one generation can be complicit in the actions of another, how racism and anti-semitism have shaped the American experiment, and how gorgeous it is on the coast of Maine.
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Jul 31, 2019
Lisa Howorth (8/1/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #42
Charlie talks with novelist and bookseller Lisa Howorth about independent bookstores (including Lisa's famous Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi) and her new novel The Summerlings. They discuss childhood in the 1950s, the tradition of the child protagonist in Southern literature, the Cold War, and more as they talk about this funny, moving, thought-provoking, and downright fun novel of childhood.
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Jul 14, 2019
Julie Zuckerman (7/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #41
Charlie is in England and Julie is in Israel as they discuss her recent novel in stories, The Book of Jeremiah. They talk about writing linked short stories, the immigrant experience in the United States and Israel, contemporary Judaism, and why a central character who is sometimes cantankerous can be so delightful to read about.
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Jun 27, 2019
Louise Penny (6/27/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #40
Charlie talks with international best selling novelist Louise Penny about her beloved hero Armand Gamache, the residents of Three Pines, the sound of writing, what it's like to write a series, and much more. The conversation also delves into Penny's forthcoming fifteenth book, A Better Man and of course mentions food, weather, and Canada!
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Jun 14, 2019
Gwendolyn Womack (6/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #39
In front of a live audience at Bookmarks, Charlie talks with bestselling author Gwendolyn Womack about her new novel The Time Collector. Listen in as they discuss psychometry, antiques, New Orleans, and the power of memory.
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May 31, 2019
Cara Hunter (6/1/2019) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #38
In the creepy confines of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England, Charlie talks with best selling crime novelist Cara Hunter about her latest novel featuring Detective Inspector Adam Fawley, No Way Out. Charlie & Cara discuss Oxford, detective fiction, the secrets of writing a good mystery, and more.
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May 14, 2019
Shawn Levy (5/15/2019) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #37
Charlie talks old Hollywood, new Hollywood, movies, gossip, and scandal with Shawn Levy, film critic and historian and author of the fascinating new book The Castle on Sunset, a history of the Chateau Marmont, one of LA's most famous and infamous buildings,.
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May 1, 2019
Ian McEwan (5/1/2019) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #36
Charlie talks ethics, morality, justice, and artificial intelligence with Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, Amsterdam, and his latest novel Machines Like Me—a throughly enjoyable and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human in which Alan Turing, the Beatles, and a robot named Adam all take a part.
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Apr 15, 2019
Ann B. Ross (4/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #35
The author of the popular Miss Julia books sits down to talk with Charlie about the creation of the Southern town of Abbottsville, listening to her characters, learning from literature, and much more—including a discussion fo her latest installment, Miss Julia Takes the Wheel.
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Mar 31, 2019
Frances Mayes (4/30/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #34
Before adjourning for food and wine, Charlie and Frances Mayes discuss all things Italian, from her runaway bestseller Under the Tuscan Sun to her latest book, the Italian travel adventure See You in the Piazza. Pour a glass of Chianti, serve out a bowl of pasta, and get ready to plan your own trip to Italy as Mayes discusses what she knows (and loves) best.
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Mar 15, 2019
Ariel Lawhon (3/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #33
Ariel Lawhon joins Charlie to discuss her novel I Was Anastasia, an exploration of two lives—Anastasia Romanov, youngest daughter of the last Tsar of Russia, and Anna Anderson, who for 50 years claimed to be Anastasia. Ariel talks about filling in the gaps in the historical record with her imagination, researching historical fiction, and the all important "Author's Note."
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Feb 27, 2019
Tommy Tomlinson (2/28/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #32
Charlie talks with journalist Tommy Tomlinson about his moving and insightful book The Elephant in the Room—One Man's Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America. They talk about living in a world that was not designed for you, the culture of southern food, developing empathy, and much more.
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Feb 14, 2019
Liam Callanan (2/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #31
Charlie talks with Liam Callanan, author of Paris by the Book, about, what else—Paris and Bookshops! But also about strong women, The Red Balloon, Madeline, and some crazy journeys around Wisconsin. Liam was in town for Bookmarks Movable Feast and as two novelists who write about bookshops, we had a great time together.
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Jan 29, 2019
Wil Medearis (1/31/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #30
Charlie talks with novelist Wil Medearis about his debut novel Restoration Heights, set in present day New York City. They discuss living in and writing about New York and many of the issues the novel grapples with from race and class to gentrification, personal vs. societal ethics, and even, to borrow a phrase, la vie boheme. Recorded live at Charlie's hotel room in NYC—you might even hear a little traffic in the background!
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Jan 14, 2019
Roshani Chokshi (1/15/19) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #29
Charlie talks with the delightfully witty Roshani Chokshi about her new novel The Gilded Wolves with digressions into the place of mythology in fiction, how to own your own diversity, what's so great about the Eiffel Tower, and how to sneak into a St. Tropez night club. Roshani was at Bookmarks to launch her new novel, the first in a trilogy, which she calls "National Treasure" with more attractive people and a colonialism agenda.
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Dec 20, 2018
Ebenezer Scrooge (12/20/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #28
In a special Christmas episode Charlie speaks to a live audience about his Christmas book The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge and then calls upon his long-ago theatrical training to provide a reading of the first chapter of Scrooge's new adventures.
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Dec 9, 2018
Megan Bryant (12/10/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #27
Charlie talks with children's and young adult author Megan Bryant about living in Winston-Salem, writing picture books, and her most recent young adult novel Glow, based on the story of young women who supported the war effort in WWI by painting watch dials with radium. Megan tells us about her research and shares some of the amazing story of this novel.
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Nov 29, 2018
Virginia Pye (11/30/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #26
Charlie talks with award-winning author Virginia Pye about her newest collection of short stories Shelf Life of Happiness. They delve into the nature of short stories and of storytelling, inhabiting characters across differences, setting as character, and even how the weather can effect the mood of a story. If you've ever tried to write a short story, you'll want to listen in!
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Nov 19, 2018
Lisa Gabriele (11/20/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #25
Charlie talks with Lisa Gabriele about her new novel The Winters, inspired by Daphne Du Maurier's immortal thriller, Rebecca. Charlie and Lisa discuss foreshadowing, women's relationships, MeToo, reader expectations and much more.
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Nov 9, 2018
David Grann (11/10/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #24
Charlie talks with New Yorker staff writer and author of The Lost City of Z about his new book The White Darkness, the story of Antarctic explorer Henry Worsley. Ever wondered what it would be like to trek across hundreds of miles of Antarctica all by yourself? Of course you have, so listen in!
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Oct 29, 2018
Sarah McCoy (10/30/18) Inside the Writer's Studio Episode #23
Charlie talks with his neighbor and friend New York Times bestseller Sarah McCoy about her new novel Marilla of Green Gables, set in the Anne of Green Gables universe. Their discussion ranges from visits to Prince Edward Island, to writing the story of an already beloved character, to the evolving definition of a feminist.
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