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10-26-11: A 2011 Interview with Jana Marcus

"'Transfigurations' is a real opportunity to stare."

—Jana Marcus

I've known Jana Marcus for some time now, as a publicist for Cabrillo College. I've spoken with her over the years about music recitals, plays, local events celebrating arts and artists — but never Jana herself. This was my first opportunity to get to know Jana as an artist.

Having immersed myself in 'Transfigurations,' it was truly a pleasure to talk with Jana about her methods and influences and the journey she took in making the book. We talked about equipment, lighting, camera and her influences, which may on the surface seem surprising but when you see the work — well, it makes perfect sense. You can hear my conversation with Jana by following this link to the MP3 audio file.




10-25-11 UPDATE: Podcast Update: Time to Read, Episode 15: Russell Banks, 'Lost Memory of Skin'

Here's the fifteenth episode of my new series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. The podcasts/radio broadcasts will be of books worth your valuable reading time. I'll try to keep the reports under four minutes, for a radio-friendly format. If you want to run them on your show or podcast, let me know.

My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.

The fifteenth episode is a look at Russell Banks and his new book, 'Lost Memory of Skin.'

Here's a link to the MP3 audio file of Episode 15: Time to Read: Russell Banks, 'Lost Memory of Skin.'




10-24-11: 2011 Interview with Michael Reynier

Click image for audio link.

"I just started typing..."

—Michael Reynier

Michael Reynier's perplexity is authentic. He seems more than a bit shocked that he has managed to do what he accomplishes in 'Five Degrees of Latitude.' But that perplexity is tempered by the obvious drive it took to create this unique collection of stories. He's like a man who has walked a tightrope for the very first time. He's both amazed he made it across and anxious to do so again.

I spoke with Michael Reynier only due to the best of circumstances. Most of the time, he resides in England, but he had reason to be in Northern California, and on a sunny but cool summer afternoon not long ago, I had the opportunity to drive up to a gorgeous mansion that overlooked the San Francisco Bay and talk with Reynier about how he created these stories.

That story in itself is every bit as mind-boggling as the stories in this book, and indeed it goes a long way to explain just how and why he was able to create the concise, intense, concentrated-but-still luxurious style of story we find in 'Five Degrees of Latitude.' This is really quite incredible, and I want readers to hear him tell it, not have me spoil the surprise.

Given what I've read in 'Five Degrees of Latitude,' and what Michael told me about its creation, I'm honored to have what I believe to be the first audio interview with what I feel is a major literary talent. You'll hear a detailed discussion of each story and how each was created. I'd recommend buying the book first, and reading it first, but you will certainly want to do so after hearing the interview. Reynier also discusses what he is working on now, which I suspect will really break him out.

Reynier and I talked for long enough that I'm offering three different files and two different ways to hear the interview.

You can hear the complete, 1-hour 22-minute interview by following this link.

I've also divided the interview into two parts.

You can hear part one (43 minutes) by following this link.

You can hear part two (39 minutes) by following this link.



New to the Agony Column

09-05-15: Commentary : Susan Casey Listens to 'Voices in the Ocean' : Science, Empathy and Self

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Susan Casey : "...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey : Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins

08-24-15: Commentary : Felicia Day Knows 'You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)' : Transformative Technology

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Felicia Day : "I think you have to be attention curators for audience in every way."

08-22-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 212: Felicia Day : You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)

08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]

Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]

08-10-15:Agony Column Podcast News Report : In Memory of Alan Cheuse : Thank you Alan, and Your Family, for Everything

07-11-15: Commentary : Robert Repino Morphs 'Mort(e)' : Housecat to Harbinger of the Apocalypse

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Robert Repino : "...an even bigger threat. which is us, the humans..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Robert Repino : Mort(e)

07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 208: Michael Gazzaniga : Tales from Both Sides of the Brain: A Life in Neuroscience

06-26-15: Commentary : Neal Stephenson Crafts an Eden for 'Seveneves' : Blow It Up and Start All Over Again

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Neal Stephenson : "...and know that you're never going to se a tree again..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 207: Neal Stephenson : Seveneves

06-03-15: Commentary : Dan Simmons Opens 'The Fifth Heart' : Having it Every Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Dan Simmons : "...yes, they really did bring those bombs..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 206: Dan Simmons : The Fifth Heart

05-23-15: Commentary : John Waters Gets 'Carsick' : Going His Way

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with John Waters : "...you change how you would be in real life...”

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 205: John Waters : Carsick

05-09-15: Commentary : Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD and 'Shrinks' : A Most Fashionable Take on the Human Mind

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : "..its influence to be as hegemonic as it was..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 204: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD : Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

04-29-15: Commentary : Barney Frank is 'Frank' : Interpersonally Ours

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Barney Frank : "...while you're trying to change it, don't ignore it..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 203: Barney Frank : Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 202: Kazuo Ishiguro : The Buried Giant

04-17-15: Commentary : Erik Larson Follows a 'Dead Wake' : Countdown to Destiny

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Erik Larson : "...said to have been found in the arms of a dead German sailor..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 201: Erik Larson : Dead Wake

04-15-15: Commentary : Peter Bell Reflects 'A Certain Slant of Light' : Strange Stories of Modern Scholars

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2014 Interview with Peter Bell : "...I looked up some of the old books..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 200: Peter Bell : Strange Epiphanies and A Certain Slant of Light

03-14-15: Commentary : Marc Goodman Foresees 'Future Crimes' : Exponential Potential

Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."

Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It

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