Bookmarked

 Du Mez traces the history of a militant masculinity that has shaped white evangelism from the early 20th century until the first election of Donald Trump. She explains how “a nostalgic commitment to rugged aggressive militant white masculinity serves as the thread binding together” attitudes towards women, gays, immigrants, Blacks, and anyone perceived as other, along with support for milita...

"Maud thought he hadn't figured out yet that Indian maidens weren't exactly the lovely wildflowers they were made out to be in books." Garrie Borden and I explored Margaret Verble's compelling account of an aspiring young Cherokee woman coping with life in Eastern Oklahoma in 1928.

Amelia leaves Germany for Texas, where she marries a man she barely knows. The Doctor’s Wife, part of a trilogy about German migration into Texas—from 1845-1875, chronicles her coming-of-age, along with the founding and development of the Texas port city of Indianola. Author Myra McIlvain talked with me about her vivid historical novel about German immigrants in Texas.

Dr Rebecca Bell-Metereau and I explored this timely and inspiring work, "a blueprint to end voter suppression, empower our citizens, and take back our country," according to the New York Times .

Ghosts, snakes, family lost and found, and plenty of sweetened ice tea! India Hayford talked with me about her lively, compelling debut novel.

We celebrated National Poetry Month with readings from the brand-new edition of When the River Speaks, A Community Published Poetry + Art Anthology. Three contributors to this issue--Marieta Hutchison, Jacqueline Miller, and Blaze Turley read and talked about their work. E. D. Watson, an award-winning local poet and one of the founders of the journal, read from her work and talked about creating t...

The planet harbors a virus that kills all men and some women. But women who survive have the power to reproduce themselves. Science writer Eva Silverfine was my guest to talk about this fascinating work of speculative fiction.

The personal is always political--and vice versa. Historian Victoria Bynum talked with me about her compelling new book, Deep Roots and Broken Branches: a History and Memoir . It’s a history of her family, starting before the Civil War, which is also the history of the country. This family, like all families, has its own dynamic which is nevertheless shaped by economic and cultural forces and by w...

What could drive a woman to murder? First performed by the Provincetown Players in 1916, the drama opens with the farmer John Wright dead and his wife, the only suspect, held for his murder. As the Sheriff and the County Attorney search for clues, the sheriff’s wife and a neighbor, relegated to her kitchen, imagine the wife’s life. “Trifles” not only solves a mystery but also questions a justice s...

In James , Percival Everett gives Mark Twain's Jim from Huckleberry Finn his own voice and his own story. Chris Gardner and I explored this extraordinary novel.

Would some small decision have given you a different life? We investigated some possible answers in conversation with Rex Cole, author of the funny, thought-provoking novel Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart.

Is it better to ask the right question than to have all the answers? Lynn Borton, host of Choose to be Curious , joined me for a discussion of James E. Ryan's thought-provoking book, describing five essential questions.

Medicine helps us live longer, but does it help us live well, all the way to the end? Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau talked with me about Dr. Atul Gawande's profound, lucid exploration of that question. Anyone with a body should read this book, we concluded.

Todd Crickmer talked with me about Scout of the Oregon Trail: The story of an American family traveling the Oregon Trail in 1852 as told by Scout, the family's dog . His memorable re-creation of the 2,000-mile journey over the Oregon Trail brings to life the real experience of an American myth.

San Marcos author Jerry Whitus talked with me about his vivid, compelling short story collection, The Innocent and Others .

Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of  Fat Vampire,  adapted by The SyFy Network as  Reginald the Vampire .   and over 100 other titles across many genres, including fiction and non-fiction.  We talked about his experience as an indie writer, his wide-ranging imagination, and his writing process. Truant fan Blake Farrar added his own insights.

50 years ago, a devastating explosion killed dozens in this small Missouri town. Now, nobody wants to talk about it. Author Michelle Collins Anderson talked with me about her vivid re-imagining of this real event and its lingering consequences.

Garrie Borden and I explore Manuel Muñoz's powerful short story collection, The Consequences , set in the cities and fields of California's Central Valley. His memorable characters struggle with the limitations of their circumstances—sometimes of their own making.

Corey Long's biography brings Ritchie Valens to life and makes us mourn his loss all over again. Priscilla Delgado Hermiller served as guest host for this episode.

Fellow KZSM radio host El Tio/Uncle Gene joined me to read, listen, and talk about some scary stories for Halloween.

Native Texan is a literary road trip through a Texas that might surprise you. Author Joe Holley joined me to talk this collection of his colorful, thought-provoking columns.

A wise man contemplates life's deepest mysteries--including joy. Bookmarked regular Chris Gardner joined me for a discussion of Marilynn Robinson's Pulitzer-prize-winning American classic, Gilead

In her inspiring and timely book, Melinda Gates draws on her experiences as a philanthropist and her own history to show that lifting up women lifts up everyone. Rebecca Bell-Metereau was my guest.

Wimberley singer/songwriter Chick Morgan talked with me about her funny, poignant memoir--devastating personal losses finally sent her back where she thought she never wanted to be!

Clay DeStefano spent some 30 years working within the American health care system, and he thinks it's just not working, as he explains in this thought-provoking book. He talked with me about it on July 23.