The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Chris Lafave, Erik Deckers, and David James Poissant for a discussion of Kurt Vonnegut.

Vonnegut 2

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Sirens of Titan.jpgSlaughterhouse FiveCats CradleBreakfast of ChampionsA Man Without a Country.jpg

NOTES

When in Indianapolis, visit the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library.

Vonnegut Library

If you are in Orlando, that is, the City Beautiful, this Wednesday, come celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Dharma Bums at the house where Jack wrote it.

Dharma Bums Celebration

Here is our On the Road show from last year.

https://youtu.be/Dg_V4amBlJo

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_330.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

In this week’s episode, I chat with novelist Blair Hurley about our experiences in NYU's MFA program, how to plot novels, religion, and how to really dress like a writer.

Blair Hurley

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Devoted Cover

NOTES

Check out Brian Turner's album, featuring recordings by his late wife, Ilyse Kusnetz.

Interplanetary Acoustic Team

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_329.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:31am EDT

This week, I interview Dale Lucas, the author of the Fifth Wardand Doc Voodooseries of novels about exploring ethics in long-form narrative, world-building (and when to stop), how to keep writing the novel in maddening isolation, and other stuff, too.

Dale-Lucas-cr-JP-Wright

Books Discussed

Fifth Ward Friendly FireFirst-Watch-cover-768x1148Doc Voodoo CrossfireDoc Voodoo Aces and EightsDale Lucas No Surrender

NOTES

Check out Dale's essayabout having Simon Vance perform the audiobook of his novel, The Fifth Ward: First Watch.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_328.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:32pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview Adrian Todd Zuniga, the host of Literary Death Match, about how to plot a novel, and how he plotted his novel, Collision Theory.

Adrian Todd Zuniga

TEXT DISCUSSED

Collision Theory.png

NOTES

Check out my previous convo with Adrian back on Episode 190.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_327.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 5:16pm EDT

Pat Greene Sunrail

In this week’s episode, I talk with the Orlando legend, Patrick Greene, about the power of being an autodidact, the importance of curiosity outside of one's area of expertise, and the struggles of trying to live the life of a writer.

NOTES

To get some idea of Pat Greene's influence, here's a video featuring his 60th birthday celebration at the gallery earlier this year.

https://youtu.be/CYXqonaFaAQ

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_326.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 9:43pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with the poet Abraham Smith about his latest release, the book-length work, Destruction of Man.

Abraham Smith

TEXT DISCUSSED

TMB-024_AbrahamSmith-DestructionOfMan_OUTLINECOVER

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_325.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:38pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about short story writing over the long haul, and about her brand new book, Perfect Conditions.

Vanessa Blakeslee Author Photo.jpg

Plus James Chapin writes about how the King James Bible changed his life.

James Chapin

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Perfect_Conditions_Front_Cover

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_324.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:01pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I chat with the classicist and translator, Emily Wilson, whose translation of the Odyssey feels both superbly magical and contemporary.

[caption id="attachment_23399" align="alignnone" width="1001"]Wilson, Emily (c) Ralph RosenEmily Wilson by Ralph Rosen.[/caption]

TEXT DISCUSSED

The Odyssey

NOTES

Check out this new funky, psychedelic audio soundscape project featuring Brian Turner, Ilyse Kusnetz, and Jared Silvia, among others.

Interplanetary Acoustic Team.png

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_323.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 4:27pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I chat with the actor Sean Pratt, who is approaching his 1,000th audiobook reading. We talk about breaking into voice work, how to read non-fiction, the audiobook of Infinite Jest, and many other things.

Sean Pratt.jpg

NOTES

Check out Sean's websiteto learn about his voice coaching and webinars.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_322.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:14am EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about E. M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel as my copy of it crumbled and dissolved. I defend the honor of Henry James at great length.

Vanessa Reading Aspects of the Novel smaller.jpg

TEXT DISCUSSED

Aspects

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_321.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:05am EDT