PEN / Faulkner Foundation

Episode 11 of our podcast features acclaimed novelist, short fiction writer, and literary critic Alan Cheuse and Alyson Foster, an emerging author whose debut novel and story collection will both be published in 2014. Unlike our previous episodes—which come from PEN/Faulkner reading series events and award ceremonies at the Folger Shakespeare Library—this reading marked the debut of a new collaborative venture: The Hill Center Reading Series Presented by PEN/Faulkner. The Hill Center Reading Series features new and established authors and takes place at Hill Center, an community space located in the renovated Old Naval Hospital in the heart of D.C.'s Capitol Hill neighborhood. This particular event took place on Sunday, Dec. 2nd, 2012, and the reading begins with opening remarks by Emma Snyder, Executive Director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.  Alan Cheuse is the author of the novels The Bohemians, The Grandmothers’ Club, The Light Possessed, and the award-winning To Catch the Lightning, plus several collections of short fiction. Cheuse has been a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered since 1982 and his short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, The Southern Review, The Antioch Review, and elsewhere. His latest book is a trio of novellas published under the title Paradise, Or, Eat Your Face. Alyson Foster recently received her MFA from George Mason University where she was a Completion Fellow. Her fiction has appeared in publications including The Iowa Review, The Kenyon Review, and Glimmer Train. In 2014, her novel, God is an Astronaut, and her short story collection, The Place of the Holy, will be published by Bloomsbury. She works for the National Geographic Society and lives with her husband in Takoma Park. Special thanks to the Folger Shakespeare Library and to Amazon.com, who make this podcast possible, and to Benedict Kupstas, who composed our theme music.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.

Episode 10 of our podcast features Robert Stone and Lauren Groff in a reading that we called Free Radicals: Two writers explore the idealism and aftermath of utopian aspirations. The reading took place at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre on Nov. 12, 2012, and conversation with the authors was moderated by David Talbot, founder of Salon.com and author most recently of Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love.  Robert Stone is the author of seven novels, as well as two story collections and a memoir. His novel Dog Soliders, published in 1974, won the National Book Award and his 1998 story collection Bear and His Daughter, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent collection, Fun With Problems, was published in 2010. Lauren Groff’s first novel The Monsters of Templeton was a New York Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for New Writers. Her collection of short fiction, Delicate Edible Birds, was published in 2009, and her latest novel Arcadia, received incredible critical reception when it was published this spring and was just named one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post.  Special thanks to the Folger Shakespeare Library and to Amazon.com, who make this podcast possible, and to Benedict Kupstas, who composed our theme music.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.

Episode 9 features Jeffrey Eugenides, acclaimed author of the novels The Virgin Suicides, Middlesex, and The Marriage Plot. Eugenides kicked off PEN/Faulkner's 2012-2013 reading series on September 24, 2012 at the Church of the Reformation in Washington, D.C. The evening was emceed by Washington Post book critic Ron Charles. PEN/Faulkner Executive Director Emma Snyder and PEN/Faulkner Boad President Fazier O'Leary provide the opening remarks. Special thanks to the Folger Shakespeare Library and to Amazon.com, who make this podcast possible, and to Benedict Kupstas, who composed our theme music.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.

  The 24th annual PEN/Faulkner Foundation Gala was held on September 10th, 2012 at the Folger Shakespeare Library.  Each year for the Gala, we invite accomplished writers from around the nation to compose and present three minutes of work written to a single theme. This year’s Gala theme was “Resilience,” and the reading features emcee Calvin Trillin introducing writers Carol Anshaw, Louis Bayard, Chris Bohjalian, Ben Fountain, Major Jackson, Vaddey Ratner, Elissa Schappell, Susan Richards Shreve, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Hilma Wolitzer. This live audio recording from the event begins with opening remarks from Susan Richards Shreve, co-chair of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation's Board of Directors and Frazier O'Leary, President of the Board. Special thanks to the Folger Shakespeare Library and to Amazon.com, who make this podcast possible, and to Benedict Kupstas, who composed our theme music.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes. 

The 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 5th, 2012 at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. This live audio of the ceremony features readings from 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award winner Julie Otsuka, as well as three of the four finalists for the award: Russell Banks, Don DeLillo, and Steven Millhauser. The fourth finalist, Anita Desai, was unable to attend the ceremony. Introductory remarks were made by former PEN/Faulkner Executive Director Matthew Burriesci and PEN/Faulkner Board Member (then Board President) Lisa Page, and the evening was hosted by author and radio host Scott Simon.  Special thanks to the Folger Shakespeare Library and to Amazon.com, who make this podcast possible.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes. 

This month's episode features a reading by Benjamin Percy and Dagoberto Gilb, which was recorded at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre on February 6, 2012. They are introduced by PEN/Faulkner board member H. G. Carrillo.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.

This episode features a reading by Edith Pearlman, the recipient of the 2011 PEN/Malamud Award. Pearlman was introduced by PEN/Faulkner Board Co-Chair Susan Richards Shreve, and presented the award was presented to her by Janna Malamud Smith, daughter of Bernard Malamud. The event was recorded at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre on December 2, 2011.

This episode features readings from Myla Goldberg, Allegra Goodman and Monique Truong presented in conjunction with the Folger Shakespeare Library’s celebration of women writers. The event was recorded at the Folger Shakespeare Library on January 9, 2011. Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.

Our first episode of the PEN/Faulkner Podcast features highlights from our 2011 PEN/Faulkner Foundation Gala, held on September 26, 2011. The event benefits the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction as well as our Writers in Schools program, and asks accomplished writers to read three minutes of new work on a single theme. This year's Gala theme was "The Writing on the Wall," and featured emcee Roy Blount Jr. introducing Maxine Davis and Leneisha McCauley, two winners of our annual high school essay contest. They're followed by readings from Amy Dickenson, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, David Ignatius, Ken Ludwig, James McBride, Kyoko Mori, Roxana Robinson, Karen Russell, Andrew Sullivan, Natasha Trethewey, and Al Young.  Subscribe to the Podcast in iTunes.