Episode 177 Notes and Links to Laura Warrell’s Work
On Episode 177 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Laura Warrell, and the two discuss, among other things, her early love of writing and acting, important works and writers who steered her into her own career, how teaching literature at Berklee College of Music informed her writing and creative outlook, and issues in Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm around love, connection, traumas, promiscuity, character development, real-life inspirations, and structural and character-based decisions.
Laura Warrell is a contributor to the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and the Tin House Summer Workshop, and is a graduate of the creative writing program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work has appeared in HuffPost, The Rumpus, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other publications. Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm was published in September 2022, and has been rightly lauded since.
Buy Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm
Laura Warrell's Website
Los Angeles Times Portrait of Laura's Journey in Writing Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm
At about 1:40, Laura talks about the “flurry of activity” that followed her book’s publication, and Pete asks her to speak about “moving on” to her next project and how she sees her first book now and how she remembers her characters are for her
At about 5:00, Laura gives background on her very early writing (“I came to writing before I came to reading”) and reading
At about 8:20, Laura recalls her early desire (and continuing until college) desire to become an actress/theater major
At about 11:00, Laura and Pete muse on the fading idea of the writer as celebrity
At about 12:50, Laura discusses how acting became secondary to writing in her pivotal college days, as well as writers like Toni Morrison, Toni Cade Bambara, Henry Miller, Anais Nin, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, among others, who inspired her
At about 16:05, Pete asks about how Laura’s time as an instructor at Berklee College of Music informed the book and its coverage of art, artists, and creativity
At about 22:20, The two discuss a pivotal and memorable scene where the protagonist Circus receives a wakeup call and
At about 24:30, Laura gives background on the title and its genesis, and she responds Pete’s questions about why Laura used jazz as a topic for the book
At about 28:15, Laura speaks to ideas of centering the multiple women in Circus’ orbit
At about 32:10, Laura points to a particular book she was reading about a “playboy” that made her sure to have the women’s perspective front and center for those in relationships with Circus
At about 34:40, Laura lays our characteristics of Circus’ daughter, Koko, and how fleshing her out led to more narration from Circus
At about 36:30, Maggie is described, and the book’s opening scene is described and how it leads to a pivotal choice for Circus
At about 37:20, Laura talks about basing Maggie on Cindy Blackman, and Pete and Laura discuss a scene where Maggie delineates differences for her between Tip and Circus
At about 41:20, Pete references the opening scene for Koko, and Koko’s “father issues,” and Laura talks about Koko as a caretaker for her mother, Pia
At about 45:05, Pia is described, especially with regard to her maternal outlook
At about 46:05, A key scene involving Odessa (Pete is very complimentary of the craft) is discussed, and Laura talks about readers’ feedback involving Odessa
At about 48:35, Pete and Laura discuss key scenes involving Koko, especially in her unease in growing up
At about 50:20, The theme of aging is discussed, especially in terms of creative output and the world’s expectations
At about 51:25, Pete marks Raquel as in important character, a barometer, and Laura describes the role of Raquel
At about 55:10, The theme of father-daughter relationships and traumas and love is referenced and examples given, with Laura reflecting on the “broken mechanism” that steers Circus’ motivations and actions
At about 1:00:10, Pete and Laura cite a rough scene that calls to mind misogyny in a memorable way
At about 1:01:50, Pia is highlighted for ideas of trauma and ways to cope, and Laura picks up on a thread to reinforce why she wanted to write the book as she did
At about 1:05:40, Treading lightly-not wanting to give plot spoilers, Pete outlines some of the book’s twists
At about 1:06:50, Laura highlights ideas from the book on expectations for success, dreams, family life, and the immediacy of these things
At about 1:09:00, Laura gives social media info, and highlights Octavia’s Bookshelf and Skylight Books as two of many great places to buy her book
At about 1:10:05, Laura talks about an exciting new book project
At about 1:11:50, Laura gives suggestions on possible actors who might play Circus if the book were ever put on the big/small screen
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Please tune in for Episode 178 with Stephen Buoro. Stephen was born in Nigeria in 1993 and at The University of East Anglia in the UK, he was the 2018 recipient of the Booker Prize Foundation Scholarship. He has a first-class degree in Mathematics and is currently studying for a PhD in Creative-Critical Writing at UEA on a fully funded studentship. His book, Andy Africa and The Five Sorrowful Mysteries, is bound to be a sensation. Pete’s interview with him regarding the book is forthcoming in Chicago Review of Books.
The episode will air on April 18, the Pub Day for the book!
Episode 117 with Nadia Owusu, Introspective and Precise Writer and Chronicler of Trauma and Joy, Writ Large, and Author of the Award-Winning Memoir, Aftershocks
Episode 116 with Noel Casler, Standout Artist, Creative, Podcaster, and Standup Comedian with 25 Years of Experience in TV and Production, Including The Celebrity Apprentice
Episode 115 with Jennifer Fliss, Flash Fiction Star and Master of Signifying So Much by Writing So Little
Episode 114 with Reyna Grande: Brilliant and Award-Winning Memoirist, Novelist, and Author of 2022’s Triumph, A Ballad of Love and Glory
Episode 113 with Nicole Santa Cruz, Multitalented Journalist, Former Chronicler of The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report, and Reporter Covering Issues of Inequality for ProPublica
Episode 112 with James Tate Hill, Editor at Monkeybicycle , Columnist for LitHub, and Reflective and Acclaimed Writer of Blind Man’s Bluff: A Memoir
Episode 111 with Taylor Byas, Master Tactician of Profound and Affecting Words, PhD Student, Editor at The Rumpus, and Powerful Poet of the Critically- and Reader-Acclaimed Bloodwarm
Episode 110 with Bryce Hedstrom, El Padrino of Comprehensible Input in the Foreign Language Classroom, Master Teacher and Teacher Trainer, Author of Multiple Books, and Bold Advocate for Reading
Episode 109 with Ben Guest, Educator, Builder of Great Relationships through Education and Basketball, and Author of Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey
Episode 108 with Navdeep Dhillon Singh, Writer of Stirring, Profound, and Clever Work and Author of the Standout and Unforgettable Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions
Episode 107 with Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, Tireless and Compassionate Advocate for Carceral and Mental Health Reform and Author of The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice
Episode 106 with Daniel Olivas, Lawyer, Wordsmith, Playwright, Aesthete, and Author of 2022’s Unique and Riveting How to Date a Flying Mexican Story Collection
Episode 105 with Nikesha Elise Williams, host of Black and Published Podcast, prolific and versatile writer of Beyond Bourbon Street and More, and Master Storyteller in Different Media.
Episode 104 with Matt Bell, Author of The New York Times Notable Book, Appleseed, and Uber-Talented Craftsman, Worldbuilder, Chronicler of Society’s Mores, and Writing Teacher
Episode 103 with Tracey Thompson, Short-Story Reader Extraordinaire, Shirley Jackson Fan, and Publisher of the ”California Reading” Project
Episode 102 with Tice Cin, Interdisciplinary Artist, Aesthete, Wordsmith, and Author of Keeping the House-Called” a cult classic in the making” by The Guardian
Episode 101 with Mia St. John, 5-time World Boxing Champion, Founder of El Saber Es Poder Foundation, Advocate for Mental Health Awareness, and Author of the Memoir, Fighting for My Life
Episode 100 with Susan Muaddi Darraj: Versatile Writer of Moving and Well-Researched Works for All Ages and ”Portraits of Flawed, Ordinary Humans with Whom the reader Can Feel Joy, Pain and Empathy”
Episode 99 with Sara Borjas, Profound Thinker, Script-Flipper, Proud Pochx, and Author of the Breathtaking Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff
Episode 98 with Greg Bishop, Disciplined and Voracious Reader, Profound and Thoughtful Writer, and Storyteller with Sports Illustrated, Showtime All-Access, and More
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