Words and Music Episode 1: In the Heart of the Heart of the Country

In Part 1 of this audio series exploring the life and work of Indiana writers, Susan Neville, Adrian Matejka, Kevin McKelvey, and Jim Walker discuss the beauty and challenges of Indiana through the lens of William Gass's 1968 story, "In the Heart of the Heart of the Country."

The episode features excerpts of the story and conversation about what it means to be a writer living and working in Indiana. This series is made possible by Indiana Humanities and produced by WQRT/Big Car.

Susan Neville is author of creative nonfiction and short fiction. She teaches at Butler University.

Adrian Matejka teaches at Indiana University and served as Indiana Poet Laureate for 2018-19. He's the author of five books.

Kevin McKelvey is a place-based poet and artist. He teaches at University of Indianapolis and directs the M.A. in Social Practice Art.

Jim Walker is a poet, artist, and teacher. A co-founder and executive director of Big Car Collaborative, Jim worked previously as a journalist .