From Stage to Page: James Magruder on “No One Is Looking at You” - Ep 18

Author and playwright James Magruder sits down with Ian Henzel to talk about his new short story collection "No One Is Looking at You". We dig into theater’s collaboration vs. fiction’s heavier lift, how alpha readers sharpen the work, and why ageism in publishing—especially for older LGBTQ voices—still needs naming. James gets personal about the moments that carved his voice (HIV survival, grief, joy), the journals that keep him honest, and the books that feel like home. In this episode • Stage craft → story craft: what changes (and what doesn’t) • “Head always in a book”: military-brat roots & early influences • Rejection, resilience, and building with feedback (alpha readers) • Ageism in LGBTQ literature and widening the lens • Journals, voice, and the surprise of how readers respond • Favorite “worlds to live in” and why they stick Read a sample from "No One is Looking at You" → [https://www.book2look.com/book/yKG9CfMgjL Get the book → https://rattlinggoodyarns.com/product/no-one-is-looking-at-you/ #James Magruder #No One Is Looking at You #theater #fiction #ageism #literature #writing #influences #LGBTQ literature #storytelling