Wild Precious Life Evergreen Podcasts

Jacquelyn Mitchard is the best-selling author of 23 books, including A Very Inconvenient Scandal, The Good Son, and The Deep End of the Ocean, which was the inaugural selection for Oprah Winfrey’s book club. In today’s episode, Jacquelyn and Annmarie talk about the opportunities and challenges of balancing motherhood and the writing life, finding character names in cemeteries, and how no story is ever truly complete until the reader is holding the author’s hand.

Episode Sponsors:

Aesop’s Fable – An independent bookshop in Holliston, Massachusetts with a focus on inspiring creativity and growth in readers of all ages. Stop by or shop online at aesopsfable.com.

Brewster Book Store – A full-service independent shop filled to the brim with books, toys, games, greeting cards, and gifts. We’ve been matching readers with books for over 40 years, and we’re proud of our collection of Cape Cod books, our extensive children's section, and our wide selection of books for readers of all tastes and ages. We believe books have the power to change lives. Come in or shop online at brewsterbookstore.com.


A Small Selection of Books by Jacquelyn Mitchard:

A Very Inconvenient Scandal
The Deep End of the Ocean
The Good Son
A Theory of Relativity

Films Mentioned in this Episode:

Wuthering Heights – Here’s a clip from the 1992 version starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche.

Here’s a trailer for North by Northwest.

Here’s a clip from the film Glory.

Here’s the trailer for American Fiction.

Finally, if you’re a writer and want to journey with Jacquelyn Mitchard along the Mediterranean Sea this fall, learn more HERE. 

Follow Jacquelyn Mitchard:
Facebook: jacquelyn.mitchard
Twitter: @JackieMitchard
Instagram: @jacquelynmitchard
Goodreads: jacquelyn_mitchard
jacquelynmitchard.com
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Alua Arthur is the most visible and active death doula working in America today. She’s a recovering attorney and the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization. Her TED Talk titled, “Why Thinking About Death Helps You Live a Better Life,” has over 1.5 million views. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Alua discuss Briefly Perfectly Human, Alua’s life-changing, soul-gathering memoir. They also discuss how talking about death can help all of us live better lives. 

Episode Sponsors:

Octavia’s Bookshelf – An independent bookstore in Pasadena, California where readers of all walks of life can enjoy our store full of books written by BIPOC writers. Octavia’s Bookshelf is a place to find your new BFF inside a book, a space to find community, enjoy a cup of coffee, read, relax, find unique and specially curated products from artisans from around the world and in our neighborhood. Stop by or shop online at octaviasbookshelf.com.

Rep Club – A bookshop and creative space curated by Blackness in Los Angeles, California. Named one of Issa Rae's "favorite places in Los Angeles," this Black, queer, and woman-owned space hosts bookish events    and can help you find your next 5-star read. Wherever you are, shop online at rep.club. For a limited time, listeners can get 10% off your next read with code WILD at checkout! 

Titles Discussed in this Episode:

Briefly Perfectly Human, by Alua Arthur
Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
Conscious Grieving, by Claire Bidwell Smith
Love on the Scottish Spring Isle, by Beatrice Bradshaw
Fathers and Sons, by Howard Cunnell


Follow Alua Arthur:
Instagram: @going_with_grace
Twitter: @goinggracefully
Facebook: @goingwgrace
goingwithgrace.com











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Today, we have something new. This past spring, Annmarie gathered with eight local writers to try a podcasting project. Over the course of six weeks together, they wrote side-by-side, saying YES to whatever stories arose. About friendship and loss, dreams and possibility, parents and belief. These sessions were sometimes tearful and painful, but they were always beautiful. And powerful. Because something important happens when we create in community. In this episode, we share eight short essays. Some folks have been writing for decades. Others are just getting started. All of them have stories to tell.


Episode Sponsors:

Literary Cleveland – Developing writers, amplifying voices, and transforming our community through storytelling. You can explore other voices and discover your own. Search for classes and find your creative community at litcleveland.org.

Mac’s Backs – A proud Cleveland indie bookstore with three floors for browsing, great online service, and chocolate milkshakes right next door. Find your next great read and shop online at macsbacks.com.


Writers Showcased in this Episode:

Alvis Pettker
Tamar Cloyd
Jackie Sliva
T. Lee Peters
Deborah Taddeo
Emily Jaster
L.P.
Amy Alspach


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Crystal Wilkinson is the award-winning author of several books including Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks. She was Poet Laureate of Kentucky from 2021 to 2023, and currently teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky where she is a Bush-Holbrook Endowed Professor. In today’s episode, Crystal and Annmarie discuss kitchen ghosts, family recipes – including how biscuits need to “kiss,” and the blessings and self-awareness we find in the stories of our ancestors.


Episode Sponsor:

Charis Books and More – An independent feminist bookstore. Charis fosters sustainable feminist communities, works for social justice, and encourages the expression of diverse and marginalized voices. When you spend your money or your time at Charis Books and More, you are investing in the radical belief that multi-racial organizing and movement- building centered in a Southern, queer, feminist, anti-racist practice can
shift culture and change lives and we appreciate your support. Stop by our
Decatur, Georgia store or find us online at charisbooksandmore.com.

BEM | books and more – BEM is a bookstore specializing in food literature of the African Diaspora, inspired by a line of dynamic and brilliant Black women who season with love and spin tales with the best of them. Honoring that legacy and those of Black folks and families across time and place is at the heart of what they do. Food opens a door to life, to sustenance, to love, to politics, and BEM | books and more is thrilled to welcome you into their community to explore it all together. Discover more online at bembrooklyn.com or on their Instagram @bembrooklyn.

Wild Precious Life listeners receive 10% off their orders at BEM | books and more. Just type in the code WILDPRECIOUSLIFE (all one word) when you check out.


Titles Discussed in this Episode:

Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks, by Crystal Wilkinson

Perfect Black, by Crystal Wilkinson

The Birds of Opulence, by Crystal Wilkinson

Other conversations with Crystal Wilkinson:

PRAISESONG FOR THE KITCHEN GHOSTS: STORIES AND RECIPES FROM FIVE GENERATIONS OF BLACK COUNTRY COOKS

PERFECT BLACK: CRYSTAL WILKINSON IN CONVERSATION WITH KIESE LAYMON

BREATH BETTER SPENT: LIVING BLACK GIRLHOOD--DAMARIS B. HILL IN CONVERSATION WITH CRYSTAL WILKINSON



Follow Crystal Wilkinson:
Instagram: @crystalwilki
Twitter: @crystalwilki
Facebook: @wilkinsoncrystal
crystalewilkinson.net









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Christina Cooke was born in Jamaica and is now a Canadian citizen who lives and writes in New York City. BROUGHTUPSY is her debut novel. In today’s episode, Annmarie and Christina discuss cultural upbringings, the cruelty of children, the joys of weightlifting, and how all humans are complex and contradictory and deserving of love. 


Episode Sponsor:

Zora’s Den – Dedicated to empowering the lives of Black women writers. At Zora’s Den, we host a monthly reading series, conduct workshops, and invite writers to share their work-in-progress for feedback and constructive criticism. Our hope is to build a sisterhood of writers at every level of accomplishment and to strengthen the voices of the unheard and unacknowledged. If you’re a Black woman writer, you’re welcome to join us. Learn more at zorasden.com.

Brain Lair Books – A black-owned, woman-owned children's bookstore located in South Bend, Indiana. At Brain Lair, we partner with local schools and universities to help build an inclusive, welcoming community. We specialize in juvenile and young adult literature written by and for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, and Disabled communities, as well as adult nonfiction about ending white supremacy, promoting anti-racism, and becoming a social activist. We can help you find the books you need. Drop by or browse online at brainlairbooks.com.


Titles Discussed in this Episode:

BROUGHTUPSY, by Christina Cooke

IMAGINARY HOMELANDS, by Salman Rushdie

WHITE TEETH, by Zadie Smith

It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, by Celine Dion.

Learn more about Louise Bennett, a Jamaican folklorist and poet. 



Follow Christina Cooke:
Instagram: @christina.j.cooke
Twitter: @christinajcooke
www.christinajcooke.com
Photo credit: Eli Jules Photography 


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Sarah Kain Gutowski is the author of Fabulous Beast and along with interdisciplinary artist Meredith Starr, she’s co-creator of Every Second Feels Like Theft, a conversation in cyanotypes and poems, and It's All Too Much, a limited edition podcast and art project. She’s out now with a new book of narrative poetry, The Familiar. In today’s episode, Sarah and Annmarie discuss the ache of literary ambition, how parenthood divides us from ourselves, and how Moonstruck is one of the best movies of all time.

Episode Sponsor:

Zora’s Den – Dedicated to empowering the lives of Black women writers. At Zora’s Den, we host a monthly reading series, conduct workshops, and invite writers to share their work-in-progress for feedback and constructive criticism. Our hope is to build a sisterhood of writers at every level of accomplishment and to strengthen the voices of the unheard and unacknowledged. If you’re a Black woman writer, you’re welcome to join us. Learn more at zorasden.com.

Split Rock Books – A locally-owned, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore located in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Split Rock carries a curated selection of new books with a focus on literary fiction and non-fiction, small presses, local interest, and children's books. We host a variety of family programming, book clubs, readings, signings and discussions. And we’re located steps from the Cold Spring train station, which is just over an hour from New York City. Learn more or shop online at splitrockbks.com.


Titles Discussed in this Episode:

The Familiar, by Sarah Kain Gutowski

Fabulous Beast, by Sarah Kain Gutowski 
Kate Bush's album 50 Words for Snow

One of Annmarie and Sarah’s favorite scenes from the movie Moonstruck.

Hills Like White Elephants, a short story by Ernest Hemingway.

​
Follow Sarah Kain Gutowski:
Instagram: @sarahkaingutowski
Twitter: @skgutowski
Facebook: /sarahkaingutowskiauthor
TikTok: @sarahkaingutowski
Email: sarah.kain.gutowski [at] gmail.com
Website: https://www.sarahkaingutowski.com

Photo credit: Priyanca Rao



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