Writers and artists discuss their work in these challenging, changing times with host and producer Katie Bausler on the 49 Writers Active Voice podcast. Episode 15 guest Kathryn H. Ross is the  author of Black Was Not A Label, a memoir collection of essays and poetry chronicling her life from early childhood to her mid-20s. Themes include racism, identity, faith and their impact on Black Americans. Learn more about Kathryn and her writing on her website, speakthewritelanguage.com. Please subscribe and follow the Active Voice podcast on Apple, Spotify and 49writers.org. Music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlarz. 

Active Voice: Writers Respond

Kathryn H. Ross, Writer, Author of "Black Was Not a Label"

We’ve reached a last straw in the struggle for justice for black people in this country. Add to that mass inequality magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s an artist, writer or activist to do?Writer’s Block co-owner Vered Mares and Active Voice host Katie Bausler discuss elevating the voices of black and brown writers. And Mares experience with racism and freedom of religion in  as a high school student in Denton, Texas,  which led to a Supreme Court catalyst case the early 1990’s.

Vered Mares, Writers Block Bookstore and Cafe'

Bathsheba DeMuth's first multi-award winning book, Floating Coast, An Environmental History of the Bering Strait  (2019),  explores the impact of what she calls self-serving ideas of human progress on the ecosystem of where Alaska and Russia almost meet.  She is in the research process for her next book, on nature vs. human rights in the Yukon River watershed of Alaska and Canada. The Active Voice podcast is a 49 writers forum for discussion of the place of writers and artists in these challenging times. Listen and subscribe to  Active Voice  on Apple, Spotify, Simplecast or 49writers.org.

Bathsheba DeMuth, Environmental Historian

Tired of division, strife and the feeling that half the country just doesn’t get it? Want more joy in your life? In the world? Then you might like to meet our first guest songwriter, Jackie Venson. Host Katie Bausler caught up with the Austin based guitarist and vocalist on her latest visit to Southeast Alaska. The  conversation began with how her manager came up with the title of Jackie's latest album, JOY, released in 2019. 

Jackie Venson, Songwriter and Guitar Ripper

Susan Orlean is best known for her books The Orchid Thief, Saturday Night, Rin Tin Tin, and most recently, The Library Book, published in October, 2018. Now out in paperback, it’s a story she was compelled to tell about the largest library fire in US history and how it renewed a lifelong love and appreciation for the magic of libraries. 49 Writers Active Voice host and producer Katie Bausler met with Susan Orlean when she was the keynote writer at the 2019 North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway, Alaska. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlarz.

Susan Orlean

Author Annie Boochever on Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich. Boochever collaborated with this story of Elizabeth Peratrovich's life for young readers with her son, Roy Peratrovich Jr. This highly recommended work arrives at a time when issues of race and racism are clearly unsettled. Show Links: Annie Boochever Fighter In Velvet Gloves 49 Writers

Annie Boochever

49 Writers co-founder and author Andromeda Romano Lax has published her fourth novel, Plum Rains. Andromeda lives for a while in the places where her novels are set, for this one in Japan and Taiwan. The book takes place a decade from now and takes on several issues, including robots, immigration, privilege, and human connection. The Paris Review lauds it for, “engineering a world that is a character in itself, impossibly complex and daunting in its believability.” When Andromeda began her career two decades ago, she was a non-fiction writer of well-researched columns and articles. It was the global jolt of 911 that turned her to fiction. Show Links: Andromeda Romano Lax Plum Rains 49 Writers

Andromeda Romano-Lax

Gustavus based writer Kim Heacox sounds a warning bell and gives hope for the future in this packed exchange with host Katie Bausler. Kim's wilderness activism has infused his writing and photography of than a dozen books over the past twenty-five years. His novel, Jimmy Bluefeather, won the 2015 National Outdoor Book Award. And his 2005 memoir, The Only Kayak is rife with prescient realizations about the times we live in. His latest focus is on writing opinion pieces for daily newspapers . Show Links: Kim Heacox 49 Writers

Kim Heacox

State Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes has spent a good part of her life bearing witness. The author of the American book award winning, Blonde Indian and the Tao of Raven, Hayes is known for bringing out the connections between all things. She is also a member of the faculty at the University of Alaska Southeast. She says to better understand our present we need to look our past, and the history of oppression and genocide of indigenous peoples. Show Links: Ernestine Hayes Blonde Indian The Tao of Raven 49 Writers

Ernestine Hayes

Travel writer and author of the acclaimed Global Soul, Pico Iyer is an eternal optimist in a seemingly pessimistic world. Pico Iyer is also a contributor to major news publications, the author of two novels and nine works of nonfiction. His latest effort is The Art of Stillness, Adventures in Going Nowhere. Pico’s Ted Talks have millions of viewers and he’s been hanging out with the Dali Lama for 44 years. Attendees at the 2018 Northwords Writers Symposium in Skagway, Alaska were lucky enough to hang out with Pico as he was the keynote guest. When they are not traveling, Pico and wife Hiroko live in Japan and California. In between a symposium session, Pico shared his refreshing perspectives on making time for writing and humanity. Show Links: Pico Iyer Ted Talk Elle Magazine 49 Writers

Pico Iyer

When not spending time in endangered and beautiful places or teaching writing, Pam Houston lives with horses, goats and dogs in her cherished home of almost 30 years, an off the grid ranch in the high country of Colorado. In this episode, Pam tells host and producer Katie Bausler that it is metaphors that get her through this seminal moment for the natural world. And discusses her latest book, Deep Creek,Finding Hope in the High Country.

Pam Houston

Beauty-of fauna, flora and most of all-place is part of everything she writes, says Joanna Lilley. The author of a short story collection and two books of poetry, Lilly grew up in the UK and lives in Whitehorse Yukon, Her first novel, Worry Stones, published in late 2018, is set in in Canada, Britain and the Scottish highlands. And as she tells Active Voice pocast host Katie Bausler, the places she has lived are as relevant to her writing as the people who raised her and the times in which they lived.

Joanna Lilley

Former commercial fisherman and Alaska writer laureate Nancy Lord’s work’s been infused with the political and the environmental since well before the 2016 election. Her 2011 book Early Warming showed Alaska on the front lines of climate change. Her latest novel, PH, tells the story of ocean acidification through all too human characters, humor and grace. Nancy’s also a teacher and mentor to writing students in Homer and in the University of Alaska Anchorage MFA program. And as she told 49 Writers board member and podcast host Katie Bausler, she has strong feelings about the responsibility of writers in these times. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.

Nancy Lord

In this installment 49 Writers audio series with Alaskan writers, Southeast Alaskan Vivian Faith Prescott discusses her original stories and poems with Active Voice host Katie Bausler. Prescott utilizes multi media, including print, spoken word, video, audio and her blog, Planet Alaska. Her first book of stories, the Dead Go to Seattle was published in 2017. New York times reviewer Garth Stein calls it, an important, essential work that should be required reading for all thoughtful, imaginative people. Vivian Faith Prescott is a 5th generation Alaskan who lives at her family's fish camp just north of Ketchikan in Wrangell, where she was born and raised. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.

Vivian Faith Prescott

In this initial Active Voice podcast, 49 Writers board member Katie Bausler interviews Alaskan writer and Faith of Cranes author Hank Lentfer. The Gutavus, Alaska resident discusses his upcoming biography of fellow Southeast writer Richard Nelson, and a light outlook in dark times. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.

Hank Lentfer

The 49 Writers Active Voice: Writers Respond podcast explores how current events and issues are shaping writers' work and perspective on democratic values of justice, freedom, equality, and liberty. The ongoing series is hosted and produced by board member Katie Bausler. Respectful expression, discussion, and debate are valued. The ideas discussed are not necessarily those of 49 Writers.

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Active Voice: Writers Respond

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