Show Notes and Links to Christian Kiefer's Work
On Episode 28, Part II, Pete is thrilled to speak with Christian Kiefer, master author of among other masterpieces, Phantoms, a 2019 tour de force novel. Pete and Christian discuss Phantoms in greater detail, including the characters' motivations and origins, the book's impeccable ending, the "community of writers"/being a mentor and being mentored, what Christian is reading and writing these days, and much more. The listeners are also gifted by hearing Christian read from the ending of Phantoms.
Dr. Christian Kiefer grew up in the foothills of California (Auburn).
Director of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Christian Kiefer's Author Page
Interview with Four Way Review
Dr. Christian Kiefer's Homepage for Ashland
Twitter and IG: @xiankiefer-Twitter and IG
Christian discusses the research and background on the Vietnam War needed to make John Frazier, the narrator of Phantoms, and his experience ring true -at beginning of episode
Christian discusses the generosity and kindness of The OG/Il Padrino of The Chills at Will Podcast, Tobias Wolff-at about 1:20 (and Pete tries to play it cool when Christian says that Pete should have Tobias Wolff as a guest on the podcast)
Pete and Christian discuss Ray Takahashi from Phantoms, and the ironically beautiful writing about war in the novel-at around 3:15
Slight plot spoilers (but not really) about Homer Wilson and others from Phantoms-from around 4:15 to about 7:40
Christian discusses how an innocuous choice about enchiladas speaks to a larger point about full-bodied characters-at around 7:40
Pete asks Christian about the balancing of art and commerce-at around 11:15
Shouts out Katie Adams, his wonderful editor, for cutting some 30K words considered to be “extraneous”-at around 13:30
Pete and Christian talk about the “community of writers” and how he is simply a fan of so many writers who are part of this “Golden Age of Writing,” including Lauren Groff, C. Pam Zhang, Garth Greenwell, Michelle de Kretser, Leslie Jamison, and Michael Ondaaatje-at around 14:45
Christian talks about being mentored and being a mentor-at around 17:40
Christian reads from Phantoms-at around 19:40
Christian discusses his thought process regarding the book’s ending and the interesting idea of
writers as being “in the business of breaking hearts”-at around 22:25
Christian discusses epiphanies and ignorance displayed by John Frazier, narrator of Phantoms, and quotes Viet Thanh Nguyen in describing how John Frazier “fails up” as a white man-at around 24:15
Christian talks about teaching writing/literature-at around 26:55
Chrsitian shouts out American River College and its diversity and wonderful staff and student body-at around 30:15
Christian talks about what he’s reading and writing these days, including work by Timothy Morton and Michelle de Kretser, Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes, and a manuscript by Reyna Grande, who has written an interesting book about the Irish in Mexico-at around 33:05
Pete talks about his connection to excellent writer and generous spirit, Reyna Grande, who often visited Pete’s SoCal high school to speak to his students after they read her page-turner, Across a Hundred Mountains-at around 34:10
Christian talks about the four novels he is currently editing/shopping around-at around 35:10
Episode 233 with Jazmina Barrera Velázquez, Author of Cross-Stitch/Punto de Cruz, and Wise Chronicler of the Vagaries of Friendship and History and their Effects on the World
Episode 232 with Kate Brody, Author of Rabbit Hole and Master of Writing Intriguing and Flawed Characters and Crackling Plotlines
Episode 231-April 13, 2024 Live Event to Launch Jose Vadi's Chipped, a reflective, creative, subtly brilliant essay collection
Episode 230 with Chelsea T. Hicks, Author of the Story Collection, A Calm & Normal Heart, Revitalizer and Student of the Osage Language, and Crafter of Poetic, Timely, and Timeless Stories
Episode 229 with Will Sommer, Author of Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Reshaped America, and Keen and Thorough Chronicler of the QAnon Movement Through The Washington Post
Episode 228 with Jennifer Croft, Author of The Extinction of Irena Rey and Award-Winning Translator, and Master of Worldbuilding, Highly-Allegorical Yet Masterfully-Plotted Fiction, and Nuance
Episode 227 with Gina Chung, Author of Green Frog, a Dazzling Collection of Poignant, Offbeat, Chillingly-Realistic and Fantastical Stories
Episode 226 with Priscilla Gilman, Author of The Critic's Daughter and Skilled and Thoughtful Chronicler of the Universal and the Intimately Personal
Episode 225 with Andrés N Ordorica, Author of How We Named the Stars and Generous Creator of Poignant, Resonant "Love and Loss" Scenes and Utterly Memorable Characters
Episode 224 with Peter Coviello, Enthusiastic and Deeply Knowledgeable Critic and Celebrator of Moving Art, and Author of the Essay Collection, Is There God After Prince
Episode 223 with Sarah Rose Etter, Master Balancer of Surrealism, Realism, Dark Humor, and Themes of Grief and Anxiety that are Timely and Timeless
Episode 222 with Andrew Leland, Author of The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, and Masterful Chronicler of His and Other Journeys with Blindness and its Intersections with our World
Episode 221 with Martha Anne Toll, Renaissance Woman, Book Reviewer, Creative, and Award-Winning Writer of the Moving, Contemplative Three Muses
Episode 220 with Aniefiok Epoudom: Keen Chronicler of Hip-Hop, Football Culture and Pop Culture in the UK, and Savvy and Nuanced Master of Telling Personal Stories; Author of
Episode 219 with Roxanna Asgarian, Principled and Dogged Reporter, Caring and Clear-Eyed Journalist and Author of We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
Episode 218 with Melissa Rivero, Author of Flores and Miss Paula, Keen Observer of Modern Corporate Life and Nuanced Chronicler of Grief’s Many Permutations
Episode 217 with Jeff Sharlet, Author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, and Sharp-Eyed Chronicler of Impending Fascism and Previous Fighters in The Movements
Episode 216 with Kate Maruyama: Author of Bleak Houses, Master Worldbuilder, and Skilled Observer and Chronicler of Family Traumas, Class and Privilege, and Psychological Horrors Modern and Timeless
Episode 215 with Nick Fuller Googins, Reflective and Dynamic Worldbuilder, Educator, and Creator of the ”Hopeful” Climate Crisis Novel, The Great Transition
Episode 214 with Leah Myers, Chronicler of the Heartfelt, the Specific, the Universal, and the Myth and Proud History of the Jamestown S’Klallam in the Memoir, Thinning Blood
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