This episode particularly warms my heart. First, it is the culmination of all our work to make season one of Neighborhood Bookstore happen. Second, I have known this author, April White, since high school. It is such a privilege to see her career blossom and to chat about her amazing book.
On this episode:
Accidentally writing a Feminist narrative
Recording the forgotten corners of American history
How 19th century “paparazzi” made it possible to research the Divorce Colony
Writing a women’s story, a frontier story, a story about scandal, a railroad story, a western, and a history book
Deadwood in the days after Wild Bill Hickok’s murder
The amazing record keeping of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
What The Divorce Colony can tell us about our lives today
Coming off of Smithsonian Magazine, the Washington Post, Boston Globe Magazine, Philly Magazine, and Atlas Obscura
The emergence and (maybe) the end of no-fault divorce
Following your curiosity back through history
Special thanks to: my co-host, Craig Duster, owner and head ne’er-do-well at my favorite used bookstore Pop Art Books Culture. Craig always brings an enthusiastic, important, and original perspective to our interviews; my co-producers Eliza Osborn and Julie Cancio Harper, who helped this show get off the ground as well as cross the finish line; I must acknowledge the (uncredited) feedback I received from Robert Osborn, who surfed the first big wave of podcast production and shared his wisdom and experience with me; my narrator, Adam Federman, who donated his time and craft in between jobs in Los Angeles; my guests, who made time and space to talk with me about their craft and their experiences: James Grady, Christopher Barzak, Abby Vandiver (aka: Abby Collette), Peter Brandvold, David Morrell, and April White; and most of all, I must thank you, reader and listener, for showing up, for sharing community with me, and for providing encouragement and feedback. I enjoyed spending time with you so much.
Neighborhood Bookstore podcast will be back, after a brief hiatus, for Season Two.
You’re going to love it.
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