Podcast
Literary Notes
Hosted by Washington Talking Book & Braille Library · EN
Join the volunteers at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library as they interview local authors about books they’ve written in the WTBBL catalog. New episodes every other Thursday!
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is a free library service available to all Washington state residents who struggle to read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, a reading disability like dyslexia, or any other condition which might impact an individual’s ability to read standard print. WTBBL has over 150,000 audiobooks and over 25,000 braille books available to check out, as well as assistive equipment such as talking book machines, and refreshable braille displays.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
39 | Jay Rubin | The Sun Gods
1w ago00:42:22Tap to summarizeAuthor and translator of Japanese literature Jay Rubin joins us to talk about his debut novel The Sun Gods, a sprawling tale of a son searching for his Japanese mother in the wake of World War II. WTBBL volunteer Rick Sipe conducted the interview.
Transcribe →38 | Nathan Vass | Deciding to See: The View From Nathan's Bus
3w ago00:43:47Tap to summarizeFilmmaker and bus driver Nathan Vass returns to the WTBBL studios to discuss his second book, Deciding to See: The View From Nathan's Bus. He reunites with volunteer Chris Snee to talk about writing a second set of stories, the many characters he encounters driving buses at night in south Seattle, being in Paris during the terrorist attacks of November 2015, and more.
Transcribe →37 | Nabil Ayers | My Life in the Sunshine: Searching For My Father and Discovering My Family
Jun 1100:52:36Tap to summarizeDrummer and independent music mogul Nabil Ayers came by our studios in 2022 to chat about his memoir My Life in the Sunshine: Searching For My Father and Discovering My Family. The book details his deep passion for music and his relationship with his father, jazz musician Roy Ayers. The interview was conducted by former integrative services librarian Ryan Gelskey.
Transcribe →36 | Tom Fucoloro | Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle Behind the Handlebars
May 2801:09:09Tap to summarizeSeattle Bike Blog founder and editor Tom Fucoloro talks with WTBBL volunteer Merri Ann Osborne about his book Biking Uphill in the Rain: The Story of Seattle Behind the Handlebars, a detailed history of bike culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Transcribe →35 | ARCHIVE: Karen Tei Yamashita | I Hotel
May 1400:34:14Tap to summarizeWriter Karen Tei Yamashita stopped by our studios to talk about her book I Hotel, a novel detailing the final years of San Fransisco's I Hotel. In the early 20th century, it was a hub for Filipino migrant workers and Chinese immigrants, and in later decades it became a hotspot of Asian American activism when its demolition was announced. This interview was conducted in 2011 by audiobook production supervisor John Pai.
Transcribe →34 | Jesse Q. Sutanto | Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Apr 3000:40:51Tap to summarizeNovelist Jesse Q. Sutanto comes to the WTBBL studios to discuss her new novel Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block. She speaks with library volunteer Ren Caldwell about the trophy-wife upbringing that inspired the novel, her passion for travel, living with ADHD, and much more.
Transcribe →33 | Andrea Pons | Mamacita: Recipes Celebrating Life as a Mexican Immigrant in America
Apr 1600:43:21Tap to summarizeCreative director and food stylist Andrea Pons stops by to discuss her cookbook Mamacita: Recipes Celebrating Life as a Mexican Immigrant in America, and the fascinating true story behind it. She joins WTBBL volunteer Margarita Muñoz to talk about immigration, compare pinto beans and black beans, and enjoy homemade conchas.
Transcribe →32 | Jane Wong | Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City
Apr 200:58:19Tap to summarizePoet Jane Wong stops by the WTBBL studios to chat about her memoir, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City. Library volunteer Amber Wang, who recorded the book for our catalog, joins her to discuss researching her family without an archive, writing about memories from a distance, hearing new stories from her mom, and much more.
Transcribe →31 | Glen Erik Hamilton | Van Shaw (series)
Mar 2000:57:21Tap to summarizeGlen Erik Hamilton joins us to discuss his crime thriller series following the adventures of former criminal-in-training Van Shaw. He joins longtime WTBBL volunteer Rick Sipe to discuss his background, the logistics of Seattle as a setting for a thriller, his favorite (and least favorite) parts of being a writer, and much more.
Transcribe →30 | ARCHIVE: Timothy Zahn | Star Wars: Allegiance
Mar 501:01:21Tap to summarizeSci-fi author Timothy Zahn stopped by WTBBL in 2008 to discuss his book Allegiance, a story set in between the original Star Wars film and its sequel, along with many of his other works. The interview was conducted by WTBBL volunteer Jeff Cavanaugh.
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