The Greater Voice

Interviews with some great writers

For some time, I had given up on reading fiction...and all but a narrow scope of books. Most of the books I attempted to get through were poorly written or the plot died after the opening or were more about the writer than the characters...Books for women tended to be about pleasin' that man or shedding pounds, or putting on make-up - although some were academic, too. Dry, but interesting.

All of this leads me to say that this radio show has done wonders to change all that. Here's how it works: I get about 60 press releases a week. I narrow that down to around 20 - one of my producers contacts the publicist who send the book. If the book seems well-written, substantive, and authentic, I invite the guest to be on the show. I create themes for each show so there's a thread for the listener - and the differences and parallels in perspectives is available.

The books I've been getting have been amazing, I must admit. I just finished "House Lights" by Leah Hagar Cohen - I'm interviewing her later today. Gripping and beautiful.Then there's Ted Kerasote's book "Merle's Door" about his dog, Merle, but also about dogs in general - and nature, genes, lifestyle choices (in his case, nature-man). All told in a voice that practically hummms.

If this radio show never takes off (which it BETTER) I have that. That's a lot. I need to figure out ways to let people know about the show ... but that's for another blog.
 

Tom Hayden, Amnesty, Protest Power?

For the show on Thursday, I focused on protest - especially now that the Iraq War is going so badly (who could ever expect otherwise) and yet people seem so quiet - well, relatively quiet. But why raise your voice anyway? What president ever cared? What leader ever relinquished his or her misdeeds because of a few raised voices?

I interviewed Tom Hayden, the perennial activist and former SDS guy, Mark Eleveld, who edited a book on SLAM poetry, Michael O'Reilly from Amnesty International, and Frank Lowenstein who co-edited an amazing collection of protest pieces.

Through the interviews, I found the answer: I was so surprised by it. But it seemed real. What I discovered was that protest really does have an effect ... at an important, but highly individualized level.  Amnesty International has plenty of quotes from prisoners whose spirits were saved by a single letter saying they weren't forgotten. And plenty of protesters, like Emma Goldman, who may have failed in her political intention, inspired so many women to be strong. Slam poetry, a powerful force, I believe, anyway, has given a venue for bringing together voices and people - the chance to speak, the speaking, almost as important as the words being said. A protest against the silence most people feel are pushed on them.

Of course, protest has changed things on grander levels, too. The 60's, for example,  are everywhere: we have laws that protect women at work, the EPA to protect the environment (in concept, anyway) and some health care plans that cover message and acupuncture. Tom Hayden said that Clinton thought his election was a win for the 60's protesters.

The point STILL narrows to the power of an individual...on another individual, though. A voice reaching an ear hearing a voice, reaching an ear. That's good enough. I am now convinced of it.

The Truth about Talk Show Hosts - from a Talk Show Host

I think I'm getting to the essence of what it means to be a really good talk show host: Care about the issue you're discussing; research the subject carefully; listen to your guest. I know this must seem obvious, but it isn't.

The media is filled with talk show hosts who interview people just because...I've been a guest how many times? And most of the hosts (maybe all of them) read only  a few pages of my book or none. They start
with this ridiculous question: "So, what made you want to write this book."

I answer honestly (although they probably hope for better): "Because my agent offered me the book deal and I took it. Besides, I know the subject matter and thought it would be fun to write."

And that's the truth.

Then, these media personalities flip open a page and ask me a question about whatever chapter head they happen to find. But don't I - and listeners - deserve better?? Don't the really good interviews really move people - including the person who's interviewing? Years back, I was a guest on CNN-FN for a book I wrote on writing. My host clearly didn't read the book and the questions showed it. General. Boring. But she summed up the whole problem precisely: flip her hair. Giggled. And ran out to reapply hairspray on the plastic dome on top of her head.

Because that, for many, sums up the attitude of  those we call media.

But - there are others, many others. I recently interviewed Moira Gunn who hosts NPR's Tech Nation. She knows her subject matter inside and out and lives the media. In the interview, she was excited: spoke fast, in an excited, lilting voice about biotechnology in the US today. And she REALLY wants people to now about it and they should.

I guess it's a matter of intention: why be a media person?

What I discovered

I'm writing my weekly column based on my interviews for the radio production. This one is on poetry - next week's will be on protest. What I discovered was stunning - poetry, the one form of written arts most suited for our times, is woefully neglected. Amazingly, only 1,000 books of poetry get published a year - 200,000 novels and non-fiction get published. They don't sell very well, either: the editor of Curbstone Press told me that he considers 700 books a bestseller. Yet, other bestseller books may sell millions.

Online venues are helping somewhat. Don Selby, who edits poems.com said he gets around 8,000 hits or so to his Web site each day. A good trip to make, I'd say. I've thought about the matter and included that poetry  editors are self-defeating bunch. They don't think poetry can sell so they don't promote it. Then it doesn't sell...

My eyes were particularly open to a book called The Spoken Revolution (Source Books) - an amazing mix of slam poetry and poet laureates. The editor, Mark Eleveld thinks slam poetry is becoming a movement - I hope so. It's so raw and sensual and bold - we need it in these insipid times. Download the show here.

Radio Show...In the Beginning...

I decided to have a radio show after being a guest on so many stations. Besides, I'm a radio junkie - I love listening to interviews, discussions, and anything that's lively, informative and, yes, fun. The venture is a BIG one - determining guests (so many to chose from), figuring out content (powerful and honest) and that ever awesome task of marketing.

Previously, I co-hosted a radio show that aired on am and some fm radio. Sadly, my co-host, like so many out there, was way over to the right politically, racist, calling illegals from Mexico, for example, "gang bangers" and...well... need I go on?   So, you may be wondering why would I go on the air with such a person anyway? Because, silly, I thought I would make a difference. You know - convince the far right/racist listeners that the BETTER way was just ahead. No deal - my co-host would have none of that and, in the end, we parted ways.

This did bring up an interesting dilemma. I didn't want my show to be dogmatic or lopsided. Well, too lopsided. I wanted to discuss many voices - whether I liked them or not, agreed with them or not, or even related to them...or not. Yet, the thought of bringing a gun-slinging Nazi, fascist, or any other unsavory type on the show was ridiculous. So, here's what I decided: I'll bring on honest, intelligent guests whose mission is sincere and  hate-free, who are for things and not against them. They speak of moving ahead or living deeply - people who will move my listeners.

Even better, I'll bring on people who my listeners may not expect would move them. That's why I started my first show focusing on poets - people who edit or write books, anthologies, or .coms.The Greater Voice of poetry. Dissident. Dynamic. Honest. And self-contained. When I told a friend of my plan, he said: "Who cares about poetry?" My response: exactly.

More about the poetry later. For now, suffice to say in only few weeks I've found plenty of guests willing to join my listeners and me - some famous, most published, and all passionate. And I'm looking forward to bringing on the voices of my listeners...the field is vast, the voices, I know already, many and strong.