Booktails

In this episode, author Beth Gilstrap speaks to writing her short fiction collection Deadheading & Other Stories with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler. She reads an excerpt from the book and discusses craft, Southern literature, mental illness as it impacts artists, and what inspired the book. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Pink-Tipped Renegade is on the Hot Re...

In this episode, novelist Michael Takeda speaks to writing his novel Moth with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler.  He reads an excerpt and discusses craft, Italy, and what inspired the book. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Starry Negroni  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of Moth , make a cocktail, and listen.

In this episode, novelist Keisha Bush speaks to writing her novel No Heaven for Good Boys with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler.  She also reads an excerpt and discusses craft, Senegalese culture, and the talibé boys she encountered who inspired the book. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Fairy Godmother  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of No Heaven fo...

In this episode, prose author and poet Gabriela Garcia chats about  the writing and publication of her novel Of Women and Salt with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler.  She also reads an excerpt and discusses craft, history, and identity. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Salty Mist,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of Of Women and Salt , make a cocktail...

In this episode, fiction author Damian Dressick speaks to the craft of writing as well as his experience writing his experimental short story collection Fables of the Deconstruction with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler.  He also reads from this book and discusses authors he loves and expectations for new writers. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Last Chance,  is on...

In this episode, acclaimed author Gina Frangello speaks to writing her multi-faceted memoir on adultery Blow Your House Down with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading from this book and discussing the authorial lens, narratives of disruption, male violence, the difference between love and certainty, feminism, research, and more. The recipe for his book's custom coc...

In this episode, essayist and novelist Maisy Card speaks to writing her novel These Ghosts are Family with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading from the book and discussing setting fiction in Jamaica and New York, using history as a source, and connecting with her agent. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Under the Mango Tree,  is on the Hot Redhead Med...

In this episode, novelist Zaina Arafat speaks to writing her novel You Exist Too Much with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading from the book and discussing craft, mothers, identity in multicultural contexts, influences, and process. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the On the Ledge,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of You Exist Too Much ,...

In this episode, poet Jack Bedell speaks to writing his new poetry collection Color All Maps New with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading from the book and discussing craft, family, the loss of bayou coastline, influences, and process. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Bayou Mudslide,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of Color All Maps...

In this episode, acclaimed author Tara Lynn Masih speaks to writing her collaborative novelette The Bitter Kind with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading from the book and discussing her craft, influences, and process. The recipe for her book's custom cocktail, the Bitterberry Lemonade,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of The Bitter Kind , make a co...

In this episode, recorded just before the Biden inauguration, professor, essayist, and poet Craig Santos Perez speaks to writing his ecopoetic poetry collection Habitat Threshold , with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading poems and discussing his craft, influences, and process. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Deep Blue-Ocene,  is on the Hot Redhead...

In this episode, recorded earlier this summer, Maurice Carlos Ruffin speaks to writing his satirical novel about race, We Cast A Shadow, with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading an excerpt and discussing his craft, influences, and process. The recipe for his book's custom cocktail, the Black Shadow,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of his book We C...

In this episode, Jennifer Givhan speaks to writing her novel Jubilee with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading an excerpt and discussing her craft and process. The recipe for her book's custom cocktail, the Mexicali Jubilee,  is on the Hot Redhead Media blog .  Grab a copy of her book Jubilee , make a cocktail, and listen.

In this episode, Megan Giddings speaks to writing her debut novel Lakewood with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler, as well as reading an excerpt from this novel. Megan shares thoughts on the politics and elements of society that create work that pushes back and discusses how having a community of authors for support can be helpful for authors navigating the publishing landscape. Th...

In this episode, Leigh Camacho Rourks chats stories and life with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler as well as reading an excerpt from debut short fiction collection Moon Trees and Other Orphans. Leigh shares insightful remarks on craft concepts of setting and place and discusses her use of Spanish without italics and living in the South. The recipe for her book's custom cocktail,...

In this episode, Devi S. Laskar chats craft with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler as well as reading several excerpts from her acclaimed novel The Atlas of Reds and Blues.  She shares her experience with writing the short poetic novel, getting her poetry and prose back after trauma, cloud storage, the C word catharsis, advice from Grace Paley and Lucille Clifton, and more.  The re...

In this episode, Shaindel Beers talks craft and poetry with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler as well as reading a gorgeous group of poems from her poetry collection Secure Your Own Mask.  She shares her experience with living in Oregon, her process with her writing, her enjoyment of Kathy Fish's flash fiction workshops, and her favorite cocktails or drinks.  The recipe for her boo...

In this episode, Amber Sparks talks writing and craft with Booktails co-hosts Reine Dugas and Heather Fowler and reads excerpts from her story collection And I Do Not Forgive You: Stories and Other Revenges.  The conversations span topics from audiobook recording to the role of fairy tales, parenting as female authors, roles in the creative "community," early influences, and her favorite cocktail...