Novelist Spotlight #164: John Darnton, Pulitzer-winning NYT veteran turned novelist

In the spotlight is John Darnton, novelist and author of six novels, including “Burning Sky,” his latest. Darnton worked 40 years at the New York Times cover city hall before becoming a foreign correspondent in Africa; Warsaw, Poland; Madrid; and London. Along the way he won a Pulitzer Prize and two George Polk Awards, while moonlighting as a novelist. In addition to his six novels, Darnton has also written a memoir (“Almost a Family”) about his father’s life and death as a foreign war correspondent. 

We discuss: 

>> The transition from reporter to novelist 

>> His daily word count 

>> His work style pre- and post-retirement 

>> The inspiration of Charles Darwin 

>> His father’s life and death 

>> Reporting on Lech Walesa and Poland’s Solidarity movement 

>> Etc. 

Learn more about John Darnton here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/6414/john-darnton/ 

Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no    

Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com