The Artful Periscope – The Nimble Art of Storytelling

How many threads lead us to discovery? In this edition of the Artful Periscope, Larry virtually visits Argentina to have a chat with Guillermo Martinez , the author of The Oxford Brotherhood . This gripping mystery follows the story of a mathematics student who gets caught up in a scandal involving the life of Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, a secret society and a series of terrifying mu...

How many threads connect the body and the mind? In this episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with UCI professional road cyclist and US Cycling team member James Hibbard to discuss his latest book, The Art of Cycling . With a background in both competitive sports and philosophy, Hibbard’s book illuminates the important connection between the body and the mind as well as the journeys tha...

How many threads take us to places that are foreign? Larry has a chat with author Nicholas Dawidoff regarding his most recent book The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence . After eight years of research, over five hundred interviews and many trips to Nicholas’s hometown of New Haven in Connecticut, The Other Side of Prospect recounts the wrongful arrest of Bobby Johnson and illuminates the...

How many threads are woven to created and execute a Play.  After attending the play  Eleanor and Alice , Larry is joined by the playwright Ellen Abrams , Director Frances Hill , Actress Trezana Beverly (who plays Eleanor Roosevelt), and Mary Bacon (who plays Alice Roosevelt).  The play is in 8 acts and follows these two iconic wives through the 20th century. Larry discusses what it is like to see...

How many threads connect puffs of smoke? In this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry interviews legal analyst and federal prosecutor Lis Wiehl, who sheds light on the shadowy life of FBI spy Robert Hanssen while discussing her new book A Spy in Plain Sight . Wiehl discusses the experience of growing up as the daughter of an FBI agent and how her career as a lawyer influenced her style as...

How does the writer weave the threads to tell their story? In this installment of the podcast, Larry sits down with author and friend of the podcast, Peter Blauner.   Peter and Larry discusses his latest book Picture in the Sand . Blauner discusses his research into the political situation of 1950s Egypt (and the surprising connection to the filming of The Ten Commandments), his interview with the...

How many threads are hidden in the world of intelligence.  In this installment of the podcast, Larry has an insightful conversation with the author of  Red London , Alma Katsu .  Larry inquires about Alma’s past employment working in the shadow world of United States intelligence gathering, how the war in Ukraine effected her creative process mid stream and the challenge of “self isola...

How many threads connect the residents to a building? In this episode, Larry chats with author Jenni Fagan to discuss her latest book Luckenbooth . Jenny describes her life growing up in the Scottish foster care system, the empowerment writing gave her when she didn’t have a voice and how switching between homes gave her a unique perspective on people. Then she delves into Luckenbooth , illustrati...

How many threads connect us to iconic figures? On this installment of the podcast, Larry ponders Hemingway with author Timothy Christian to discuss his new book Hemingway’s Widow . Hemingway’s Widow sheds light on the fascinating life of Hemingway’s fourth wife Mary Walsh, who had often been maligned by historians. Timothy and Larry discuss Mary’s influence on Hemingway’s writing proce...

How many threads connect a doctor to the development of CPR and how many threads connect a community to their own paramedics?  Larry is joined by author Kevin Hazzard and paramedic John Moon to discuss American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics  to delve into this incredible story of an African American community in Pittsburgh, and the connec...

How many threads are at the intersection of comedy that binds us?  Larry is joined by Michael Seth Starr , the author of  Don Rickles: Merchant of  Venom .   Michael and Larry explore the life of Don, from his humble beginnings growing up in Queens, New York, his service in the Navy during World War II and his subsequent rise to stardom.  Michael delves into the connection...

How many threads intersect the lives of many? In this episode, Larry sits down with author Joseph Kanon to discuss his latest book The Berlin Exchange . Joseph shares his experience switching from working in the publishing industry to becoming a published author, spy swaps in fiction and the harrowing reality of those living in East Berlin during the 1960s. His protagonist willingly crosses into E...

How many threads connect us to a voyage of exploration and discovery? In this installment, Larry chats  with author Tom Chaffin to discuss his latest biography Odyssey: Young Charles Darwin, The Beagle, and the Voyage that Changed the World . They discuss the strange path Charles Darwin walked from dropping out of medical school to becoming the father of evolution and publishing the groundbreaking...

How many threads connect us through the generations.  This episode brings us two talented individuals who both are storytellers.  First Larry speaks with Neal Wooten , author of the book  With the Devil’s Help , a book that Larry can foresee as a 3 act play. Larry speaks to Neal about his early life growing up, how he was not allowed to talk about what happens at home or even have friends ov...

What are the threads that connect us to a true path? In this installment of the podcast, Larry is joined by author John Searles to discuss his new book, Her Last Affair . Searles recounts his childhood being bullied for being gay, his love of the library and the books he read while going on long summer truck rides with his father. After recounting stories about his own life, Larry and John discuss...

How many threads lead us to discovery? In this episode Larry chats with S.D. Sykes , author of The Good Death , a mystery novel which takes place in Middle Ages England. S.D. Sykes brings us behind the scenes to paint a picture of discussing the challenges of writing protagonists living in different times, what was considered a “good death” in a society facing the plague and the difficulty of bala...

How many threads connect to challenges and obstacles? In this episode Larry sits down with author Jim Kempton to discuss his new book Women on Waves . Jim delves into the long history of women in surfing, the great Bethany Hamilton and the film Soul Surfer.  Jim also reveals some unexpected surfing celebrities such as Agatha Christie and Marilyn Monroe . Larry harkens back to his running days to s...

What is the thread that connects us to complex characters? It’s an “alumni” episode!  Larry chats with previous guests Julian Rubenstein and Ellen Meister . Julian discusses his non-fiction work, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood . and what it is like as an outsider to the community he focuses on, and the importance of making community connections....

How many threads lead us to understand men in power? This week, Larry sits with author and Boston Globe journalist Mark Arsenault about his new book The Imposter’s War: The Press, Propaganda, and the Newsman Who Battled for the Minds of America . The book centers on John Rathom, a journalist known for his World War I propaganda, his riveting press coverage on current events, and the web of l...

How many threads connect us to lies and deception? In this episode, Larry sits down with author Paul Vidich to discuss his new book The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin . Larry and Paul discuss the difficulties and intrigue of the spy biz along with the allure of setting thrillers in Cold War Berlin along with the agency of the female protagonist.  Afterwards, Larry shares some random thoughts and obse...

How many threads connect us to the past,the present, and the future? Larry steps into the unknown and speaks with Dr. Simon Morden , author of The Red Planet: A Natural History of Mars . Larry broaches the topics of The God Particle, TheBig Bang Theory and the significance of theJames Webb Telescope. Dr. Morton then discusses the history of Mars, the presence of Carbon-12, why Mars soil is red, th...

How many threads lead us to the conviction of an innocent man? This week Larry Davidson sits down with author Charles Bosworth Jr. and defense attorney Joel Schwartz to talk about their collaborative book Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case . Bone Deep recounts the unjust conviction of Russell Faria and Joel’s fight to prove his innocence. Larry, Charles and Joel discuss the facts of...

How many threads connect us to a journey?   S. J. Rozan joins the program along with her feline companion to speak about her latest work Family Business , a work nominated for the G.P Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award .  Along with articulating the complexities of Chinatown, the Tong organized crime family, and the hierarchy of Chinese culture, S. J. and Larry draw a comparison betwee...

How man threads connect us to a changing way of life?  A boxcar, a spiral notebook and a pencil, the root of the “origin story” of author Ed Davis who has penned  The Last Professional .  Larry explores that “origin story” and how Ed’s early life riding boxcars inspired him to write about a yesteryear of “hobos, tramps and bums” and which are wonderers.  A...

How many threads connect us from the original idea to the time the work gets to the reader?  Larry pulls back the curtain of publishing with Jenny Rossberg, Senior Publicist at Pegasus Books .  Jenny and Larry broach subjects of crime fiction (and how you can learn about a town from those works), what a Novella is and why they can be as entertaining as a full novel, and the difference between comm...