The Secret Library Podcast
Episodes
Manda Scott | Writing in Tough Times
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I cannot think of a more perfect episode to release this week than Manda Scott's. We recorded this a few months ago, and even then we strayed into a s...
Sarah Selecky | Making Magic with Revision
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every time Sarah Selecky and I get together to talk about writing, I feel a little high afterward.This conversation was no exception and, in many ways...
Marginally | Revision Method + Madness
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When people speak about revision, it's usually long after the book has come out.I wanted to make sure that we spoke about revision from the inside thi...
Sarah-Jane Stratford | Revision and History
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I have abandoned more than one novel because the historical research terrified me.When we got the the topic of historical research and revision, I kne...
Chip Cheek | Revision is Writing
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When Chip Cheek first came on the show, he told me a crazy story about his first draftWhen writing his novel Cape May, Chip wasn’t 100% certain what...
J Thorn + Rachael Herron | Revision Nitty Gritty
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wow am I glad Rachael Herron and J Thorn came on for this season.In this conversation, we get two author perspectives for the price of one, covering b...
Jade Chang | Set Yourself up for Revision Success
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Season Two of the podcast begins today with one of my favorite guests from the first half of the show: Jade Chang. Author of The Wangs vs. The World,...
#159 Elizabeth Duvivier | The LIVE Episode
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For quite a long time, I've wondered if we could pull off a live episode.So when Elizabeth Duvivier's debut novel was due to come out and my friend Su...
#158 Writing Women in History | Philippa Gregory
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This July, I happened to meet Philippa Gregory at a party.Let's be clear - I never dreamed I would write a sentence like that, especially after moving...
#157 The Creative Cave | Caroline Donahue
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Three and a half years into hosting The Secret Library, something changed.I started this show in the spring of 2016, eager to crack the code on writin...
#156 : The Goal of a Book | Meg Wolitzer
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of an emotional outline is one of the greatest discoveries I've had while recording an episode.Speaking with Meg Wolitzer was fantastic, as s...
#155 : The Hardest Book I Ever Wrote | Ruth Reichl
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I had read many of Ruth Reichl's books by the time she came on the show.I adored Tender at the Bone and remembered it from years ago. My husband and I...
#154 : Finding Fresh Language + A New Publishing Model | Greta Solomon
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Greta Solomon found an amazing writing technique the last place she expected: in training to be a songwriter.In her new book, Heart Sass and Soul, Gre...
#153 : Finding a Writing Group | Judy Reeves
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When people kept asking me about joining writing groups, I knew who needed to come on the show.Judy Reeves has been leading writing groups, online and...
#152: From Editor to Novelist | Anna Pitoniak
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Pitoniak has the ultimate inside experience: she was a big five editor before publishing her first novel.Now that she's back with a second novel,...
#151 : When Memoir Takes You By Surprise | Allison Pataki
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Allison Pataki never planned to write a memoir.As a successful historical fiction author, Allison was very happy researching the worlds of people from...
#150 : The Glorious First Draft Mess | Chip Cheek
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the first draft of his novel, Cape May, Chip Cheek made a beautiful mess.Chip wasn't sure what era he wanted his novel to be set in, so during his ...
#149 : Cracking the Code of Anne Lister | Anne Choma
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When I heard the words "encrypted diary" I knew I had to speak to Anne Choma about Anne Lister.I could not put Anne Choma's book down. So many times, ...
#148 : Putting Sexuality at the Center | Saskia Vogel
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Often, the way you treat sex in a book determines where it is shelved in the shop.If the sex is too exciting, or strays outside the usual fare your bo...
#147 : Trusting Your Editor | Martine Fournier Watson
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when your editor asks you to change a major plot point? Martine Fournier Watson was faced with a curveball late in the publishing proces...
#146 : Why We Need Writers Over 40 | Kusi Okamura
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At about 40, there is a new level of clarity about the urgency of being creative. I was delighted to speak with Kusi Okamura, Editor of The Wild Word...
#145 : How to Disappear | Akiko Busch
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Akiko Busch wanted to look at how invisibility could be a superpower. These days, so much of our time is spent worrying about how to be more visible ...
#144 : Staying Motivated through Dark Places | Jacqueline Winspear
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Maisie Dobbs has been a favorite character of mine for years. So when I found out that Jacqueline Winspear had TWO books coming out this March, I kne...
#143: Writing the Salt Path | Raynor Winn
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most people don't have to face all their worst fears in a single week. Raynor Winn and her husband were left homeless when an investment went bad. Wi...
#142: The Trial of Lizzie Borden | Cara Robertson
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most people have heard the rhyme about Lizzie Borden and forty whacks of an axe. But most don't know the case behind the rhyme and the trial that ent...
#141: Fiction Revolution & New Clone City | Mike Hembury
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Hembury has a permission slip for you In speaking with Mike about his novel New Clone city and the wild ride of a story that it is, he mentioned...
#140 : Breaking Through Writer's Block | Jasper Fforde
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I've loved Jasper Fforde for years and years. Ever since Lost in Austen, I was hooked on his witty book-nerd stories. A little bit sci-fi, a little b...
#139: Point of View | Christopher Castellani
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Point of View is Everything Christopher Castellani told me this as we discussed the ins and outs of writing his latest novel, Leading Men. Not only d...
#138: The Truth in Fiction | Lauren Wilkinson
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I love getting meta on the show. Lauren Wilkinson was so much fun to talk to, not only because American Spy is such a satisfying read, but also becau...
#137: The Curse of Ambition (+Tarot!) | Theresa Reed
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes the siren call of ambition is just too seductive to resist. When Theresa Reed's publisher pitched TWO books for her to write last year, she...
#136: Writing When Life Happens | Caroline Wright
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you don't sweat the small stuff and just write I was lucky enough to get connected to Caroline Wright and immediately wanted her to come on the ...
#135 :: Writer as Company of One | Paul Jarvis
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bigger isn't always better for writing. Of course, we'd all love a movie deal for our books or a huge advance, but the actual process of writing isn't...
#134 :: Writing Intimidating Characters | David Gillham
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I honestly think of a more intimidating character to write than Anne Frank Not only is she an actual historical figure, she's also known and beloved ...
#133 :: Writing Confessions | Caroline Donahue
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I thought I'd never do a solo episode But after nearly 3 years of the show, it was time. Through the process of interviewing nearly 150 writers, I'...
#132 :: Bullet Journaling for Writers | Ryder Carroll
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Talking to Ryder Carroll was a particularly meta experience As both the creator of the Bullet Journal Method and author of a book with the same tit...
#131 :: Intentions for the Year Ahead | Susannah Conway
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As writers, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we can take care of our words. On the other side, we don't spend nearly as much time thinking ab...
#130 :: How to Write Science Fiction | Mary Robinette Kowal
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What if you didn't have to be a scientist to write science fiction? Guess what people, Mary Robinette Kowal is about to blow your mind. She has the...
#129 :: I Miss You When I Blink | Mary Laura Philpott
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's obvious: I love having Mary Laura Philpott on the show. I just couldn't wait to talk about her essay collection, I Miss You When I Blink, comi...
#128 :: It Takes a Village | A.J. Jacobs
06 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A.J. Jacobs has been on my wishlist of guests for ages. From The Know-It-All to The Year of Living Biblically, I have loved reading along through h...
#127 :: Mining History for Science Fiction | Ada Palmer
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I could have easily talked to Ada Palmer for Six Hours. You might wish I had after listening to our conversation. Ada is the author of the Terra Ig...
#126:: How to Work With an Editor | NY Book Editors
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ever caught yourself thinking "I could never write like that?" when reading a published book? It's so important to remember that a lot goes on behi...
#125 : Writers, Keep Your Day Job | Sarah St. Vincent
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
By Day, Sarah St. Vincent is a researcher and advocate, but by night and early morning, she is a novelist. Sarah St. Vincent studied law at the Univer...
#124 :: Your Book as an Audiobook | Rachel Fulginiti
08 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With hundreds of audiobooks narrated, Rachel Fulginiti was the perfect guest to lead us through the wild world of audio. This episode will take you th...
#123 :: Hacking NaNoWriMo | Tasha Harrison
01 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every year November 1 brings the same question to writers: to NaNo or not to NaNo? Tasha Harrison and I dive into NaNo 2.0: tips and hacks for writers...
#122 :: The Importance of Trying | Alexandra Franzen
25 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When Alexandra Franzen first wrote her novel, So This is the End, she wasn't ready to publish it with the wide world. She released it as a gift - a...
#121 :: The Library Book | Susan Orlean
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When I found out Susan Orlean's latest was called The Library Book it took me exactly 2 minutes to invite her on the show to discuss it. Bless her, sh...
#120 :: Using Tarot for Writing | Jessa Crispin
11 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When I did 100 readings a few years ago, a friend asked if I could read for her writing project instead of her life. We tried it out and were amazed a...
#119 :: How to Write a Good Story | Simon Van Booy
04 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation was absolute and total heaven. Much like Simon Van Booy's latest book, the story collection "The Sadness of beautiful Things," th...
118 :: Writing through Grief | Allie Rowbottom
30 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When Allie Rowbottom lost her mother to cancer, she dove headfirst into writing. Having already completed an MFA and a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, Alli...
#117 :: How to Write Nonfiction | Joanna Penn
23 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How to Write Non-Fiction Non-fiction books are a different animal than fiction, with as many reasons to write them as there are categories. With mor...
#116 :: The Courage to Call Yourself a Writer | Amy Alkon
16 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I saw Amy Alkon speak at the LA Times Festival of Books and was delighted with her talk on her book, Unf*ckology, which breaks down the science of bu...
#115 :: Power to the Poetry | Anne Waldman
09 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Confession: I am intimidated by poetry. If you look over the back catalog of the show, you will find a dearth of poetry represented. partly this is be...
#114 :: Reading and Writing History | Diana Gabaldon
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Reading and Writing History When the Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta was announced for a reprint from Penguin, I was so excited to see that Di...
#113 Donal Ryan
26 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Donal Ryan is the best argument for staying hopeful about writing. In this conversation, we discuss how Donal Ryan stayed optimistic as his first few ...
#112 :: Finding the Story of Your Novel | Lucy Tan
19 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How I love speaking to writers who also teach writing! Lucy Tan is that delightful hybrid: a novelist who also knows how to speak about the process...
BONUS :: July Reads with Mary Laura Philpott
17 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We're going steady on a podcast! So... we've had Mary-Laura Philpott (or MLP as we like to call her around here) on recommending books seasonally fo...
#111 :: Trusting Your Process | Keith Gessen
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes the line between memoir and novel is thinner than others. Keith Gessen came on the show this week to discuss his latest novel, A Terrible Co...
#110 :: Difficult characters + sticky situations | Edan Lepucki + Jim Butcher
05 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The best books don't center around perfect characters doing easy things. I am so excited to share this week's episode as each of these conversations w...
#109 :: Getting the Details Right | Rebecca Makkai
28 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Makkai didn't set out to write about the AIDS Crisis in Chicago. This is what I love about writing. There is the saying, "Life is what happens...
#108 :: Writing about Real People | Michelle Kuo
21 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Kuo got a call one day, telling her that her favorite student had been arrested. After college, Michelle Kuo joined Teach for America and ...
#107 :: Writing a Large Cast of Characters | Chibundu Onuzo
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you just want to write a lot of characters. Chibundu Onuzo wrote her first novel surrounding two characters, so when it came time to writ...
#106 :: Travel and Setting | Stephanie Rosenbloom + Lauren Weisberger
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There is very little I love more than getting away. For anyone who loves to escape, this is your episode. Stephanie Rosenbloom and I talk about Alone ...
#105 :: The Biz of Writing | Scott Carney (+ Harmon Leon + Ted Rall)
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you just have to dive into an idea and get it done. A little over a year ago, many of you will remember that Scott Carney came on the sho...
#104 :: Facing Your Fears | Amber Rae + Madeline Miller
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I LOVE this pairing. I just have to say that at the outset. Speaking with Amber Rae and Madeline Miller was an incredible privilege. I think you'll...
#103 :: Fatherhood in Fiction | Catherine Isaac + Tom Rachman
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's funny how themes emerge when guests get paired together. Most often, the date I schedule a guest appearance is based on their book pub date an...
#102 :: Building a Business around Books | Chris Guillebeau + Tom Hodgkinson
10 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been told you can't expect to make money writing books? Me, too. Having heard the refrain that books don't make money over and over, ...
#101 The Adventure of Publishing | Ezzie Spencer and Meaghan O'Connell
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A writer is faced with so many dilemmas when creating a book. Two of the most common that I encounter in my coaching practice? "Do I go for traditi...
#100 :: When the Book Finally Comes Out | Sarah Selecky (+ Mary Laura Philpott Book Recs)
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I don't know how else to say it. This episode is long. But it's so good that we couldn't stand to cut anything out of it. As soon as I knew that Sar...
#99 :: Creating a Writing Life in France | ML Longworth
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
ML Longworth has one of the greatest writing stories I've heard so far. After the tech company her husband worked for in Silicon Valley was sold in...
#98 :: The Editing Adventure | Elaine Castillo
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Elaine Castillo broke my brain with something she said on the show. The book she ended up publishing, her debut novel America is not the Heart, was no...
#97 :: Co-Writing a Book | Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon wrote the book on Being Boss. Back in January 2015, Emily and Kathleen launched a podcast called Being Boss. It...
#96 :: Starting a Writing Career after 40 | Kit De Waal
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kit De Waal didn't start writing until she was 40. I love a hot debut novel from a bright young thing as much as the next person, but there is somethi...
#95 :: Translation and the Mystery of Swedish Crime Novels | Henning Koch + Lars Kepler
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we dive into the mysterious lure of Sweden and its literature. As a lover of languages, I have long been fascinated with the art of tran...
#94 :: The Story of the 19th Amendment | Elaine Weiss
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Elaine Weiss found the locus of action for her book deep in the library archives. I love this image because it is the stuff writing fantasies are mad...
#93 :: The Magic of the Absurd | Lord Birthday
08 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Chad Murphy is the genius behind Lord Birthday. He wasn't always out as Lord Birthday- in fact, he decided to start as an anonymous creator and kept ...
#92 :: How to Thrill Your Reader | Ben Percy
01 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Percy began Writing With a Love of (Fictional) Wooly Underpants I knew I had to have Ben Percy on the show because I kept mentioning his book, Th...
#91 :: Writing About Iran | Jasmin Darznik
22 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jasmin Darznik knew she had to tell her mother’s story first. On this episode, we discuss Jasmin’s second book, and her first novel. After the s...
#90 :: Succeeding Slowly | Jojo Moyes
15 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Before Me Before You sold 8 million copies, Jojo Moyes wrote three books that didn't sell at all. Jojo Moyes wrote three books that the publishers re...
#89 Danielle Lazarin Talks Back about Back Talk
08 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Lazarin didn't realize she'd written a Feminist Collection of Stories. What struck me about Back Talk was how real the people inside the p...
#88 I Wrote it Anyway
01 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes the hardest part about writing is having the guts to get started. In a time where it has never been easier to publish a book with indie publ...
#87 Paula Priamos Turns Suspense Inside Out
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Paula Priamos is no stranger to suspense. She spent her childhood in courtrooms thanks to her father's career as a defense attorney. She learned th...
#86 Chloe Benjamin on the Immortalists
18 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Chloe Benjamin is equally adept at creating myths and busting them. The Immortalists has enjoyed a tremendous amount of buzz, listed as one of the mo...
#85 Cecil Castellucci on Writing for Young People
11 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cecil Castellucci has been writing for young people for over fifteen years, has published a stack of books and writes an ongoing comic book through an...
#84 Joanna Penn on building a full-time writing life.
04 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Joanna Penn is a prosperous writer. Yes, you read that correctly. I wanted to begin the New Year with an episode guaranteed to inspire. Once I connect...
#83 Anu Partanen on the Nordic Theory of Writing
28 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Anu Partanen never planned to move to the United States. She was very happy living as a journalist in Finland until she fell in love with an American...
#82 Mark Frauenfelder on Broad-Spectrum Enthusiasm
21 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has heard the classic trope write what you love. In some cases, I have felt a bit bullied by this concept. "How am I supposed to know what I ...
#81 Malu Halasa on redefining American Fiction
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A journalist and author of numerous non-fiction books on the Middle East, Malu Halasa has just published her first novel, Mother of All Pigs. Born in ...
#80 Sandra Scofield gets you to the Last Draft
07 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sandra Scofield is like a warm hug from writing itself. For ages, I've loved Sandra Scofield's The Scene Book with its reassuring composition notebook...
#79 David Rocklin on finding a novel in a photograph.
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
David Rocklin found a novel in a photograph. While researching his first novel about the photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, David Rocklin was struck...
#78 Lisa Cron on Writing from the Why
23 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Cron is a woman on a mission: she wants to help you write your story so that your reader is glued to the page from the moment they pick up the bo...
#77 Piper Huguley Expands History
16 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There are genres and then there are subgenres. One of the things I love about speaking with writers across all types of books is learning about the co...
#76 Fran Krause on Our Deep Dark Fears
09 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Since writers can be a fearful bunch, I️ wanted Fran Krause on the show as soon as I️ saw his work. He decided to explore an idea he had to illust...
#75 Steven Tagle on Fulbrights for Writers
02 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Tagle wants every writer to know about the Fulbright. A few episodes ago, when Patricia Park was on the show, she mentioned something that ma...
#74 Crushing NaNoWriMo with Kate Newburg + Tasha Harrison
26 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's almost November and you know what that means... No- not Thanksgiving- NaNoWriMo! What does that mean, you might ask? It stands for National Novel...
#73 Victor LaValle on Amazing Stories read While Young
19 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Victor LaValle writes good stories. My husband has been devouring his catalogue of novels with a singular force. "This is so good," he announces fro...
#72 Scott O'Connor teaches in my living room
12 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, you read that right. On Tuesdays, Scott O'Connor shows up at my house along with a band of students. It really is the most incredible good f...
#71 Patricia Park on Trusting the Process
05 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Patricia Park is one of the few writers I know up to taking on Jane Eyre. I'm not talking about talent. As well you know, there has been no end of tha...
#70 Joe Fassler Lights the Dark
28 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I wish I had been smart enough to come up with Joe Fassler's book idea. As a fellow interview lover, Joe has been writing the column By Heart for the ...
#69 Paul McVeigh on How a Story is Born
21 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Paul McVeigh wrote a story in an afternoon that took twenty years. How is that possible? We gather images over time, trying to figure out how they fit...
#68 Gabriela Pereira on to MFA or not to MFA
14 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Gabriela Pereira doesn't think you NEED to get an MFA. However, need and want are two different things. An MFA grad herself, Gabriela realized that...