This Creative Life with Sara Zarr

Amy Gentry is the author of three psychological thrillers for adults, one 33 1/3 on Tori Amos, and a bunch of shorter stuff. Her latest book is Bad Habits, which is here to scratch all your dark academia itches and also make you laugh and cringe.After chatting a bit about her book and her own background in academia, we dug into process and publication (and her #pitmad success story), the dead end of trying to be “a good little author,” money and class and missing hotels. Amy also got me thinking differently about my standard weaknesses/obstacles question—nay, the very idea of weaknesses. And, I think she got me back onto Goodreads.I loved Amy’s energy and the energy of this conversation, and I hope you do, too.Amy onlineSmall Axe // Lovers RockJoe Pera Talks with YouMorning [expletive] Pages Produced & edited by me, Sara ZarrTheme music by Dave ConnisYe olde Bookshop shoppe This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

Amy Gentry is the author of three psychological thrillers for adults, one 33 1/3 on Tori Amos, and a bunch of shorter stuff. Her latest book is Bad Habits, which is here to scratch all your dark academia itches and also make you laugh and cringe. After chatting a bit about her book and her own background in academia, we dug into process and publication (and her #pitmad success story), the dead end of trying to be “a good little author,” money and class and missing hotels. Amy also got me thinking differently about my standard weaknesses/obstacles question—nay, the very idea of weaknesses. And, I think she got me back onto Goodreads. I loved Amy’s energy and this conversation, and I hope you do, too. Amy online Small Axe // Lovers Rock Joe Pera Talks with You Morning [expletive] Pages Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr Theme music by Dave Connis Ye olde Bookshop shoppe

Listen now | For the first episode of 2021, author Maurene Goo and I jumped on the phone just hours after the inauguration, having kept our scheduled conversation in hope and faith but also ready to cancel. For many reasons, I’m so glad we didn’t have to. Phew! After processing world events for a bit, we dig into Maurene’s backstory, writing process, the upsides of being married to another creative professional, and life as a new mom, and This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

For the first episode of 2021, author Maurene Goo and I jumped on the phone just hours after the inauguration, having kept our scheduled conversation in hope and faith but also ready to cancel. For many reasons, I’m so glad we didn’t have to. Phew! After processing world events for a bit, we dig into Maurene’s backstory, writing process, the upsides of being married to another creative professional, and life as a new mom, and then I had a revelation about anxiety, thanks to Maurene’s therapist! Maybe you’ll find it helpful, too. (Please accept my apologies for some sound quality issues that were a direct result of a rookie mistake I made in the recording process. I was able to fix much of it in post, but pardon any remaining heavy breathing.) Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr Theme music by Dave Connis Ye olde Bookshop shoppe Hi visitors, get a free or paid Substack subscription to hear about new episodes or set your podcast app to alert you! Paid subscriptions are 25% off through January 31st and come with the Courageous Creativity audio with my commentary, plus other themed mini-seasons to be announced. PayPal tip jar, if you like!

The Annotated Courageous Creativity, 1 Intro & Silent Messages Note to listeners: This is the first episode of the first paid subscriber season, The Annotated Courageous Creativity. I’m making this first episode available to all to help you decide if you’d like to hear more. Annual subscriptions will be 25% off through January 31st. Enjoy! In this episode, I read the introduction about what creativity is and why one might need courage, and the section “My Story” which is the part I use as a springboard for the diving in a little deeper for the annotations. 0.00 - Season introduction and introduction of book 14:35 - My Story 24:10 - Annotations Paid subscribers: When you first signed up, you should have received an email that included a link to open from your phone to get your subscriber feed set up in your favorite podcast app. Please let me know if you have any questions about this! This episode will also be in the general feed, but starting next week you’ll need the special link if you’d like to listen via a podcast app (vs from this page or your email). Purchase the book Courageous Creativity

The Annotated Courageous Creativity, 1Intro & Silent MessagesNote to listeners: This is the first episode of the first paid subscriber season, The Annotated Courageous Creativity. I’m making this first episode available to all to help you decide if you’d like to hear more. Annual subscriptions will be 25% off through January 31st. Enjoy!In this episode, I read the introduction about what creativity is and why one might need courage, and the section “My Story” which is the part I use as a springboard for the diving in a little deeper for the annotations.0.00 - Season introduction and introduction of book14:35 - My Story24:10 - AnnotationsPaid subscribers: When you first signed up, you should have received an email that included a link to open from your phone to get your subscriber feed set up in your favorite podcast app. Please let me know if you have any questions about this! This episode will also be in the general feed, but starting next week you’ll need the special link if you’d like to listen via a podcast app (vs from this page or your email). This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

In the final episode of 2020, I talk to Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret about the year in publishing, authors and social media, making mid-career changes, and more. This is a great episode for those who love to talk shop and want to understand a little more about where publishing has been and where it may be going. Listen right here, or find it in your favorite podcast app.Thanks for coming along with me for this 2020 return to podcasting. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store here for 2021. Happy New Year! Show note: A brief history of Book ExpoProduced & edited by me, Sara ZarrTheme music by Dave ConnisYe olde Bookshop shoppeTell a friend!Hey visitors, get a free or paid Substack subscription to hear about new episodes or set your podcast app to alert you! Annual subscriptions are 25% off through January 31st. For $36 you’ll get the full Courageous Creativity audio with my commentary in the form of subscriber episodes, plus other themed mini-seasons within the main TCL seasons.PayPal tip jar, if you like! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at thiscreativelife.substack.com/subscribe

This Creative Life is moving! The pod's new home is at Substack, where you can find out more about what I've got planned for the new paid subscriber options. Meanwhile, the interview episodes as you've always known them will continue to show up in your feed, complete and ad-free. In the final episode of 2020, I talk to Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret about the year in publishing, authors and social media, making mid-career changes, and more. This is a great episode for those who love to talk shop and want to understand a little more about where publishing has been and where it may be going. Happy New Year!  Produced & edited by me, Sara Zarr Theme music by Dave Connis Get a free or paid Substack subscription to hear about new episodes, or set your favorite podcast app to alert you! I will be shutting down the old Patreon page. PayPal tip jar

Note to listeners: Given a recent diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and the physical toll of podcast editing, Sara (while optimistic) isn't sure about the future of the pod for 2021. There's also a chance the pre-2020 archives will go behind a paywall, so download your favorites while you can at http://thiscreativelife.libsyn.com and have them free forever. Meanwhile, please enjoy this unedited conversation between Sara and author/storyteller Christian McKay Heidicker! Find the show notes at our Patreon page PayPal tip jar

Daniel Nayeri's autobiographical novel, Everything Sad Is Untrue, tells the tale of young Daniel, who has landed in Oklahoma after his mother is forced to flee Iran with Daniel and his sister and after they've spent some years living as refugees in Italy before making it to the U.S. On the podcast episode, the real Khosrou (aka Daniel) tells the tale of what happened after Oklahoma, how he wound up in publishing, and the threads of family, belonging, and sheer force of will that have pulled him through. We talk about the conflicting desires for connection and isolation, and about how to create a life with acts of welcome and little rebellions against sadness. Buy Everything Sad Is Untrue

Two writers. An obsession with cult narratives. A love of chickpeas. Sara and Courtney Summers (Sadie, All the Rage, the forthcoming The Project) talk about Courtney's backstory as a high school dropout who had her first book published in her early twenties, how to think strategically about writing without compromising your creative compass, and being driven by the desire to capture a moment, a feeling, a vibe in our novels. Also, our personalities. Pre-Order The Project

The wisdom that comes with over thirty years in this business and at this craft is priceless--Rita is generous with it here, from aspects of craft (like looking for "points of ignition within the reader") to those of identity (like quitting her day job after 25 years because "I really needed to be the author that I was on my bio").   We get a glimpse into twenty-two year-old Rita who wrote her debut Blue Tights (1987) and asked a disinterested publishing machine, "Why isn't my culture, my reality, good enough?"   We talk breakout success here at the ten-year anniversary of One Crazy Summer, stakes, process, and how she keeps herself enchanted while drafting a story.   For more: https://www.patreon.com/thiscreativelife   Pre-order Sara's Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life

Lance Rubin is the multi-talented author of three novels, co-writer of the Off-Broadway show Broadway Bounty Hunter, and performer of all sorts. In this episode, we talk about his evolution from community theater kid to writer, creative partnership with a life partner, perfectionism, death, and hope. His latest book is Crying Laughing. Find all the show notes at: patreon.com/thiscreativelife

Maggie Thrash is the author and artist of two "graphic memoirs" (memoirs in graphic novel form): 2015's Honor Girl and the recent followup, Lost Soul, Be At Peace, as well as several others works including a self-revealing web comic, Cure for Desire. Maggie and Sara talk about life online, the concept of "learn by doing," and coming out to the world (and also her parents) in her debut book. We also talk about our childhoods and how they shaped us, for better and worse. All the show notes at: patreon.com/thiscreativelife

Liara Tamani recently wrote at Time.com: "Growing up, I was a good girl. I never got in trouble. I did what I was told. ... I’d become a master at taming, hiding and cutting out the parts of myself that weren’t compatible with the person other people wanted me to be: the rebellious, curious and sexy parts; the questioning and fearless parts. The free parts."   Liara and I dig into good girl syndrome in life and in publishing, what growing up with the threat of hell hanging over you in childhood is like, and are perhaps answered by God during the interview. Of course, we also talk about books and writing: how Liara's beautiful debut, Calling My Name, came to be, and what she loves about her brand new release, All the Things We Never Knew, as well as the gorgeous covers of both of these books.   See patreon.com/thiscreativelife for complete show notes.