The Make Meaning Podcast Lynne Golodner

The award-winning author of 11 books, Tom Sleigh is the latest author to be a guest on the Make Meaning Podcast. In this episode, Tom talks with host Lynne Golodner about how his love of language traces back to childhood, when his mother, an English teacher, first read Thoreau aloud. 
 
That journey continued through decades when he was a war correspondent on the front lines in Lebanon and Syria to his archeologist days in southern Mexico and finally, to the resonance of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which turned us all into isolated individuals yearning for the connection that language brings.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Tom discuss: 
The crossroads of journalism and poetry The importance of noticing details Feral cats on military tanks in southern Lebanon King James I’s fascination with witches and also being a germophobe Writing articles about refugees How to make poetry accessible The profound sense of pleasure that comes with sitting with the words  
Links and Resources: 
THE KING’S TOUCH Walden by Henry David Thoreau Elizabeth Bishop French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Swiss archeologist and photographer Gertrude Blom Na Bolom research center Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott Charles Bell  
Find Tom Sleigh:
Website 
Facebook
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 133 – Sara Henning – Poetry about Loss & Redemption Episode 120 – Jacqueline Suskin – A Poem Every Day Episode 119 – Roots – Israeli-Palestinian – Toward True Peace in the Middle East Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – How to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist Episode 32 – Lynne Golodner – A Poet’s Legacy: Lynne Golodner Remembers Mary Oliver

Minda Zetlin has written columns for Inc. Magazine for more than a decade, and out of that research, reporting and curiosity grew the material and focus for her latest book, CAREER SELF-CARE.


The latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast, Minda Zetlin talks with host Lynne Golodner about how crucial membership in the American Society of Journalists and Authors has been for her career, how self-doubt and self-belief have been her biggest challenges, and how important it is to not just build a career, but build a life you’re happy to live.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Minda discuss: 
Writing a book while still contributing articles Using what you have from your journalistic career to build a book directed by trends and reader interest Finding the right agent, publisher and contract for each book Keeping clients for a long time Thinking outside the box when it comes to marketing your book Being a solopreneur Mentoring & sponsoring Thinking about your writing career from a 20,000-foot perspective  
Links and Resources: 
ASJA Hungry Minds publishing Your People LLC American Management Association Brad Willis/Bhava Ram HARO New World Library  
Find Minda Zetlin:
Website 
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram 
LinkedIn
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg – On Personal Passions & Creating Communities Episode 116 – Jake Neher – Telling Stories and Planting Seeds Episode 63 – Nikki Little – Purpose at the Core Episode 56 – Ken Budd – How to be a voluntourist Episode 51 – Lynne Golodner and Christina Weaver – Storytelling Marketing & Strategic Messaging

Desiree Cooper was once a Detroit Free Press columnist, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, a Kresge Artist Fellow, an attorney and now she’s a children’s book author – which explains why she considers herself “genre agnostic.”


The latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast, Desiree started writing professionally before social media was a thing, and readers regularly sent her letters and pictures in response to her columns. Her children’s book NOTHING SPECIAL was three years in the making – and it might be her best creation yet.
 
In this episode, host Lynne Golodner interviews Desiree Cooper about how much books ignited her when she was a child, the friendship between her grandson and her father, moving from Detroit to Virginia to care for her parents, and the fabrication artist who helped bring her book to life.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Desiree discuss: 
Launching the book in her yard The joy of being a featured book at the Miami Book Fair The Great Migration away from Jim Crow & the terrorism of the South The Great Reverse Migration trend of African-American families to gather for reunions in the South despite segregation and white supremacy All the touchpoints in the book – including a USAF hat, a University of Michigan shirt and a UVA pennant Author branding Themes of motherhood, family and one life making way for another  
Links and Resources: 
Booklist Know the Mother The Choice film Marilyn Nelson Flash fiction  
Find Desiree Cooper:
Website 
Facebook
Instagram 
TikTok
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 127 – Ly Tran – Writing Unapologetically Episode 121 – Stephanie Steinberg – On Personal Passions & Creating Communities Episode 118 – Elizabeth Gowing – How to Know a Place by Living Its Stories Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction Episode 97 – Eric Hale – How to Give Every Child a Chance, Even in the Most Poverty-Stricken Communities Episode 70 – Elena Reads – How to Stoke a Love of Reading in Kids

When your mother is an English teacher and your favorite TV show is Masterpiece Theater on PBS, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll take to writing creative, compelling, fantastical stories that captivate readers. “Writing was something I knew I could do,” says Sara Bennett Wealer, the latest author to share her story on the Make Meaning Podcast.
 
In this episode, host Lynne Golodner interviews Sara Bennett Wealer about how to make a living as a writer, how to earn money writing books and how they are not often the same thing. Sara discusses the importance of the author hustle to keep enough books in the pipeline so readers will keep returning to your words, and what to do when your first book goes nowhere.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Sara discuss: 
What to do when your first agent is a “hot mess” What it’s like when you finally click with an agent (shout-out to Holly Root and Root Literary!) Getting over publishing heartbreaks What to do when your books don’t sell The importance of a tight time frame and compelling conflict Book tours How to market your books & your author brand How publishing is a long game  
Links and Resources: 
Books Forward Grave Things Like Love Rival Now & When Plotter or Pantser Harper Teen Rush Bloomsbury Spark  
Find Sara Bennett Wealer:
Website 
Facebook
Instagram 
Twitter
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 128 – Becky Robinson – Building Reach for Books Episode 117 – Steven Wingate – How to Find Your Voice Again & Again Episode 103 – Katie Yamasaki – How to Create a Mural That Represents a Community Episode 87 – Rasheda Kamaria Williams – How to Emerge Stronger After Being Bullied Episode 84 – Andrew Meloche – How to Make Every Student in a High School Feel Special & Noticed

The key to great writing, says Christopher P. Locke, is to be vulnerable. Don’t worry about what people will think. Don’t censor yourself. Just share your realness and that will help others feel less alone.
 
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Christopher P. Locke about his writing journey, their shared memories in the MFA program at Goddard College, the importance of great mentors and taking yourself seriously as a writer.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Chris discuss: 
The arrogance of youth Straddling genres Believing that you and your voice matter Why you’ll be the most passionate promoter of your work Why you can’t be a good writer if you’re not an avid reader How writing allows for exploration of loss, discontent, struggle and suffering Why bad choices make good stories  
Links and Resources: 
Michael Klein Jane Wohl 25 Trumbulls Road Music for Ghosts Without Saints Black Lawrence Press NYQ Books Black River Chapbook Award Denis Johnson  
Find Christopher P. Locke:
Website 
Facebook
Instagram 
Twitter
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 133 – Sara Henning – Poetry about Loss & Redemption Episode 120 – Jacqueline Suskin -  A Poem Every Day Episode 79 – Laura Munson – How to Find Refuge in Writing Episode 73 – Jim Reese – Why Teaching Writing in Prisons Helps Everyone Episode 68 – M.L. Liebler – How to Use Writing & Performance to be an Activist Episode 2 – Barbara Jones – Stories Can Change the World

Tammy Pasterick didn’t intend to become a historical fiction novelist. But when a deep dive into her family’s immigrant history unearthed fascinating storylines about Eastern European emigres who settled in Pennsylvania, she knew she had a great story on her hands.
 
In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Tammy Pasterick about her journey of writing Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash, why she went for hybrid publishing, growing up in a family of steelworkers and coal miners, and her career as an investigator with the National Labor Relations Board, a paralegal and a German teacher.
 
In this episode, Lynne and Tammy discuss: 
Mining your family history for ideas & identity Self-publishing and managing book marketing How Americans perceive immigrants What it takes to make a life in America Launching a writing career Beta readers Character development, literary arcs and voice  
Links and Resources: 
San Francisco Writers Conference NetGalley She Writes Press IngramSpark Penn State University Book Sparks Bookstagram Blog tour with the Coffee Pot Amor Towles Kristin Hannah Outlander  
Find Tammy Pasterick:
Website 
Facebook
Instagram 
 
If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll like these other Make Meaning Podcast episodes:
 
Episode 129 – Rosina Lippi – Author of the Wilderness Series Episode 131 – Weina Dai Randel – The Last Rose of Shanghai Episode 123 – Karen Baum Gordon – On Surviving the Surviving Episode 102 – Patrick Hicks – How to Write Historical Fiction Episode 80 – Iris Lee Underwood – Author & Descendant of the McCoys of Appalachia