Autobiographical

Nov 26: Gary Lippman with A Literary Wish List

November 26, 2025

From fantastical to deeply personal, Lippman explores wishes in I Wish, Therefore I Am

I Wish, Therefore I Am with author Gary Lippman

Gary Lippman is a writer unafraid to take risks, who challenges both himself and his readers, while exploring the big (and little) questions of life.

Today, we dive into the nature of wishes with I Wish, Therefore I Am; or, This Here Is a List of Humble Appeals to Dame Fortune.

Gary reveals why he often chooses to shatter traditional narrative forms and bend genres. We discuss some of the writers and mentors who have helped shape his vision. We talk form, structure, and storytelling – sharing some of the wishes from the book, from anxieties, self-doubt, and self-help desires, to love and rewards. And we discover what Gary learned about himself while writing I Wish Therefore I Am.

Meet Gary Lippman

Gary Lippman is an author, journalist, and cultural commentator known for his inventive storytelling and keen eye for the eccentricities of human nature. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vice, and numerous literary journals. His novel, Set the Controls for the Heart of Sharon Tate, won praise for its originality and darkly comic voice. Lippman’s latest book, I Wish, therefore I Am; or, This Here Is a List of Humble Appeals to Dame Fortune, showcases his signature blend of humor, insight, and genre-bending.

Fiction, Writers on Writing

Aug 20: Paula Saunders – Starting From Here

August 20, 2025

Award-winning Author of The Distance Home

Starting from Here with author Paula Saunders

Often called a writer’s writer, Paula Saunders joins us today with her second novel, Starting From Here. The sequel to The Distance Home, this coming-of-age story is semi-autobiographical, sparked by Paula’s own life experiences.

Like the author, protagonist Rene left home at a young age to pursue dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. Set in the 1970s, Rene finds herself vulnerable in a predatory world, facing situations she’s ill-equipped to deal with – from cult like mentors and sexual exploitation, to industry predators and heartbreaking betrayal.

We discuss the writing of Starting From Here, including character development, challenges, favorites, and how the author defines creativity. Paula shares how writing this novel helped her view her own mother differently. And, we question, with 50+ years of assumed progress since the seventies, have times really changed for young women of today?

Meet Paula Saunders

Paula Saunders grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, where her new novel Starting From Here begins. She is a graduate of the Syracuse University creative writing program, and was awarded a postgraduate Albert Schweitzer Fellowship at the State University of New York at Albany, under Schweitzer chair Toni Morrison. Her first book, The Distance Home, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and named one of the best books of the year by Real Simple.