Kate DiCamillo, the author of many acclaimed books for children, including The Tale of Despereaux (Bookshop|Amazon), Flora & Ulysses (Bookshop|Amazon), and Because of Winn-Dixie (Bookshop|Amazon) believes that writers of children’s books have what...
“They shot the white girl first.” That’s how Toni Morrison’s novel, Paradise, begins, and it’s a great example of an irresistible first line. Martha shares others sent in by listeners. She also reads from a Michael Cunningham essay about why a first...
Barack Obama wants to put people to work building roads and bridges. But how about a federal jobs program for out-of-work writers? Also: why do we call it a flight of wine? How did the haircut called a mullet get its name?
In an earlier episode, the hosts heard from a woman who, as a teenager, was scolded by her grandmother for wearing a skirt that Granny said was almost up to possible. The woman wondered about that phrase’s meaning and origin. Grant shares listener...

