The Thoughtful Bro

With 5-Under-35 and Orange-Prize-winner Téa Obreht, discussing her third novel, The Morningside. We chatted re: (1) the necessity of an urgent emotional connection to your work; (2) what can/can't be taught about writing; and (3) today's fraught political climate for artists. Order Mark Cecil's novel Bunyan and Henry. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A M

My convo with debut bestseller Doug Westerbeke, author of A Short Walk Through A Wide World, about which The New York Times says, "Imagine The Life of Pi, The Alchemist, and The Midnight Library rolled into one fantastical fable.” We covered (1) struggling to nail the ending, (2) writing the adult fairy tale, and (3) why sometimes "the best way to survive things is to not underst

Who could possibly step into Mark Cecil’s host shoes on The Thoughtful Bro on his pub day without skipping a beat and fire super intelligent and fun questions at him? A Mighty Blaze co-founder and best-selling author Jenna Blum, of course! They discuss Mark's debut Bunyan and Henry; Or the Beautiful Destiny, now available wherever books are sold. Make sure you check out his book

With Boston literary citizen par excellence Hank Phillippi Ryan, discussing her latest suspense novel One Wrong Word. Hank has won scores of awards as a TV journalist and novelist (including 37 Emmys), and I dug into her storytelling habits, methods and style, unpacking the mind of this master of economical prose, twisty plots and upbeat endings. Order Mark Cecil's novel Bunyan and

With one of the foremost Native American artists working today in any field, Tommy Orange, talking about his second novel, Wandering Stars. We discussed the struggle of America to both remember and forget its past; his generative friendship with fellow celebrated novelist Kaveh Akbar; and whether the time has come when white writers of literary fiction will be expected to talk abou

With the inimitable, incorrigible, ingenious Steve Almond, discussing his new craft book, Truth Is The Arrow, Mercy Is The Bow: A DIY Manual For The Construction Of Stories. We covered: obsession as the engine for literature; the aims and importance of opening paragraphs; and how one of the ultimate goals of literature is a magnification the inner life, so we might all better under

With ultra-fresh debut author Jonathan Escoffery, discussing his celebrated linked collection of stories about Jamaican immigrants, If I Survive You. Topics included: (1) the impossibility of answering the loaded race question "What are you?" (2) the underserved market of father/son literature, and (3) the rare/extremely necessary topic of men's fashion on Zoom. Pre-order Mark Ceci

With literary podcaster and author Brad Listi, discussing his first novel in 16 years, Be Brief And Tell Them Everything, a work of autofiction exploring the despair, terror, and glory which is the creative life. We covered: brevity as an aesthetic, writing like there’s no tomorrow, and how he builds literary community through his beloved podcast Otherppl. Pre-order Mark Cecil's

Why do men turn to rage as a solution to their problems? "Because they feel stuck," says bestselling first-time memoirist Isaac Fitzgerald. We unpacked the underbelly of the two big "mass's,” masculinity and Massachusetts, as we discussed his raw, drug-sex-violence laden odyssey of the Bay State, Dirtbag, Massachusetts. Pre-order Mark Cecil's upcoming novel Bunyan and Henry. All

With sleeper hit and absolute runaway debut sensation Shelby Van Pelt, discussing her hopeful, poignant, friendship-with-an-octopus book club novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures. We discussed finding the voice for her “gentleman philosopher” octopus, how all good book ideas are probably a little bit bananas, and how it’s never too late to change, no matter how old you are. Wit