Hey all! This is Ben Robinson’s second appearance on the show. He’s a poet, librarian, and musician in Hamilton. Right now there’s two chapbooks you can enjoy – Dept of Continuous Improvement and Talking Gibberish to Strangers, two very different collections. He’s a thoughtful guy and had some insightful things to say, so listen on!
fiction
E191 with MEGHA MAJUMDAR
Hey folks! The show’s up a little early this week, as I’m out of town with (what I’m told will be) terrible reception. This week we chat with Megha Majumdar about her captivating debut novel, A Burning. It was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy!
E190 with MARTA ZARASKA
Hey all! Today’s guest is journalist and author Marta Zaraska. She’s here to talk about her new book Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism and Kindness Can Help You Live To 100.
I know, I know – you can’t see your friends like you normally do, and it’s hard to be kind and optimistic with the world being on fire and all. Still, this book makes a lot of sense…nurture your kindness and optimism, and talk to you friends when you can 😀
E189 with SOPHIE MACKINTOSH
Hi folks! Happy July to y’all. Hope all remains well and that you’re (safely) getting to return to (semi-) normal.
Today’s guest is UK author Sophie Mackintosh. Her first novel, The Water Cure, was nominated for the 2018 Man Booker Prize. Here we discuss her second novel, Blue Ticket. Enjoy!
E188 with HAZEL PRIOR
Happy summer everyone! (Like, officially, post-solstice and such). Let’s cool off with a wintery book…or at least an Antarctic one. U.K. author Hazel Prior joins us to talk about her highly enjoyable How The Penguins Saved Veronica. Hope you enjoy!
E187 with CHRIS HUTCHINSON
Hey folks! Two guests today. First up, author Anne Bokma joins us to talk about her 6-Minute Memoir series. If you’re reading this prior to June 20, 2020, at 730 pm, buy a ticket! I’ll be joining in to read a bit on the topic of leaving home / coming home. Should be good times.
Our feature interview is with poet Chris Hutchinson. We talk about his newest collection, In The Vicinity of Riches. Hope you enjoy!
E186 with TANJA BARTEL
This week we have two guests. First up, Amanda Leduc will tell us about how the Festival of Literary Diversity managed to take their entire festival online, and what they’ve got going on in the future. After that, we talk with poet Tanja Bartel, whose excellent collection Everyone At This Party is available through Goose Lane. Hope you enjoy!
E184 with GUGLIELMO D’IZZIA
Hey folks! Back to fiction today with author Guglielmo D’Izzia. We talk about his latest, The Transaction, which I found entertaining and a bit disconcerting (but you’ll have to read it to find out why!).
Otherwise very little to report in Get Lit Land. Decided to use the pandemic as an excuse to read Tolstoy for the first time (I know, I know). Though given I’m still working, I’m not sure why I thought now was the time? Whatever. Anna Karenina it is.
Be well!
E183 with NATHAN DUECK
Hey folks! Had a really enjoyable time chatting everything poetry & pop culture in this interview with Nathan Dueck. His collection A Very Special Episode is available through Wolsak & Wynn.
I also took a moment to chat with Tim Hanna from The City & The City Books, here in Hamilton, about how they’ve been doing during the pandemic. Even if you’re not from around here, the story is likely similar to a bookstore near you. Enjoy the show.
E182 with JANIE CHANG
Hey all! Hope you’ve been finding ways to enjoy the new (temporary) reality. I’ve been managing to support some local businesses without, you know, really seeing anyone. Music and books! They help. As for writing…still shopping. We’ll see what happens with the new, still-untitled-after-all-the-years manuscript!
This week Janie Chang returns to Get Lit. It was wonderful to talk to her again, this time about her new novel The Library of Legends. Enjoy!