The Thoughtful Bro

My interview with NYPL Young Lion/5-Under-35 debut author Alexander Sammartino , on his novel Last Acts . We discussed: (1) the search for transcendence and "leaving your body" via literature; (2) father & son stories; and (3) unchecked Samuel Beckett fandom. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer'...

My talk with National Book Award-winner Colum McCann , discussing his latest novel, Twist . We explored, (1) the underwater garden hose-sized tubes that (rather vulnerably) carry all the world's information; (2) how writers ought to feel in the age of AI writing (hint: undaunted!); and (3) how the current age of political strife will likely generate powerful new art. All episodes of The Thoughtful...

My fresh convo on with Ron Currie re his latest novel, the family crime saga, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne . We discussed: (1) creating existentialist heroes, (2) eats-nails-for-breakfast French Canadian female mobsters, and (3) how leading an authentic life as the highest virtue in a world of fading meaning. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . Th...

Unpacking storytelling with Callan Wink , who's out with a new novel, Beartooth . Topics: (1) reinventing the heist novel, (2) life in the *real* Yellowstone (as opposed to Kevin Costner's TV version) and (3) the pros and cons of living the writers' life far from the Brooklyn literary/publishing scene. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro...

My chat with Eric Puchner about his incredible Oprah's Book Club pick Dream State . We discussed (1) writing the "good old fashioned" novel, (2) writing the "big little" emotional moment on which stories often turn, and (3) whether you should write as if everyone you know is dead. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The...

My interview with Presumed Innocent author Scott Turow, on his latest novel, Presumed Guilty . Topics included, (1) The creative freedom that comes when authors realize they can't write like their heroes; (2) the advice Scott gave to Gillian Flynn, when she was on the rocket ship to literary fame, and (3) as a former President of the Authors Guild, his take on the threat AI poses to writers. Order...

My conversation with The New Yorker fiction editor of 20+ years, Deborah Treisman. Topics included: the "egoless" midwifery of editing; common traits among the famous writers she's known (obsessiveness and dedication are hallmarks); and anecdotes of the late David Foster Wallace. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The...

My discussion with one of the towering literary and spiritual writers of our time, translator Stephen Mitchell . We dug into his insights and process in a career translating everything from the Tao Te Ching to The Iliad to The Bible to the Bhagavad Gita . I've read more of Mitchell's words than any other writer. In many ways I've been preparing my whole life for this interview. A meaningful one. O...

My interview with Einstein's Dreams author Alan Lightman. His latest is The Miraculous From The Material , a beautiful book which pairs stunning nature photos with brief essays which explain the science behind everything from Saturn's rings to soap bubbles. Topics included (1) spirituality for the scientific-minded; (2) Alan's most powerful and personal spiritual experience; and (3) how Salman Rus...

My chat with New York Time s-bestselling "recovering productivity geek" Oliver Burkeman , on how to re-program your brain so you can live a life of meaning. Topics included (1) finding self-worth outside of one's productivity output; (2) helpful ways to think about huge issues one can't control (elections, global warming); and (3) how (oddly) admitting that it's impossible to change is often the m...

With one of my oldest publishing friends, YA author Joe Moldover , discussing his latest novel Just Until . We unpacked: (1) writing about trauma, (2) whether you can really save another person, and (3), our most colorful insights re the publishing industry from a couple of young fellas just gettin in the game. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live ori...

My interview with CJ Leede on her latest freshy-fresh horror novel American Rapture . We got into (1) America's puritan resistance to/capitalist obsession with sex, (2) how to find your authentic writing voice/genre, and (3) rescue dogs! Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libr...

My glorious conversation with 2-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, discussing her latest novel,  Let Us Descend . Topics included: (1) gaining hope and strength by remembering what others have borne; (2) making invisible history visible; and (3) finding authorial authenticity through concrete specifics. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live o...

With Alison Espach , author of the instant bestseller The Wedding People .  We discussed (1) her long, unpredictable process of writing her hilarious, absurdist mega-hit, (2) how writing a great book is often about letting characters just be honest and forcing them "stay in the room," and (3) truly the *best piece of writing advice* I've heard in a minute, which instantly helped me improve my own...

An inspiring conversation with two-time Oprah Book Club pick David Wroblewski. His first novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle , was a #1 New York Times best-seller, and now, 16 years later, he's back with his second novel, Familiaris .  We discussed (1) his writing process of overwriting, then pulling back (2) the unique ways novels seep into readers' lives, and (3) how writing, like computer progra...

A masterclass on thriller writing with bestselling phenom T. J. Newman, whose third novel  Worst Case Scenario , follows the terrifying story of what happens when an airplane crashes into a nuclear power plant. We discussed (1) how to keep creative hope alive, and when to move on, (2) how writing about the heroism in everyday people invites readers in, and (3) how mastering pace is critical to bes...

Pumping Literary Fire straight in ya veins on my latest with Mateo Askaripour, discussing his new one, This Great Hemisphere .  Topics: (1) taking big risks after a bestseller (2) shaking up the publishing industry, and (3) helping people feel seen. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly spons...

With National Book Award winner M.T. Anderson, on his debut novel for adults,  Nicked . We discussed: (1) the blurry boundary between YA/adult fiction, (2) the identity of his true intended audience, and (3) how great titles begin to tell the tale before you turn the first page. He also reads aloud the opening paragraph of the story, one of the finest in recent memory. Order Mark's novel Bunyan an...

With debut novelist Sara Shukla , on her satirical, absurdist and emotionally satisfying beach reach, Pink Whales . We discussed (1) making sure you have a solid story beneath the humor; (2) figuring out the formula of comedy through trial and error, and (3) how she finally gave up on writing that Big Important Literary Novel, and started just having fun. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All...

With Derek Black, on their new memoir The Klansman's Son . We discussed Derek's journey from being the child of the head of the KKK, to their renunciation of their white supremacist beliefs and becoming an anti-racist. In an America where the GOP presidential nominee is openly adopting planks of the white nationalist platform, Derek is sounding the alarm. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All...

With Garth Risk Hallberg discussing his second novel, and first in nine years, The Second Coming . Topics included: (1) the unique benefits of writing *very* long books; (2) Tom Wolfe & the sprawling, all-inclusive NYC novel; and (3) how/how not to deal with sudden, massive literary fame. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Bla...

With bestselling author and A Mighty Blaze co-founder Caroline Leavitt. We discussed her 13th novel, Days of Wonder , then went deep on a subject we're both obsessed with: story structure. We covered (1) the importance of presenting your book's main question in the first chapter, (2) the pros of workshopping your synopsis before writing, and (3) how Caroline says learning to structure "saved my li...

With former FBI Director James Comey discussing his second novel, Westport . We chatted re: (1) the truth/falsehood behind popular mystery genre tropes, (2) the importance of a reliable bad cop to any investigation, and (3) his prognosis on the Trump Trials. Listen to Mark's first conversation with James Comey .  Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live o...

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 Mighty Blaze...

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 Alchemis t, 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 understand them." Ord...