All posts by Francesca Rheannon

About Francesca Rheannon

Francesca Rheannon is an award-winning independent radio producer. In addition to hosting Writer's Voice, she's a freelance reporter for National Public Radio and its affiliates. Recipient of the prestigious Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award for reporting on substance abuse issues for her news series, VOICES OF HIV, produced for 88.5 WFCR public radio in western Massachusetts. She is also finishing a book on Provence (PROVINCE OF THE HEART) and working on a memoir of her father, THE ARGONAUTS. View all posts by Francesca Rheannon →

Anthony Horowitz, FOREVER AND A DAY & Maxine Rosaler, QUEEN FOR A DAY

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We talk with master of crime fiction Anthony Horowitz about his new James Bond novel, Forever And A Day (Harper Collins). It’s the prequel to the first Ian Fleming James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

Then, we talk with Maxine Rosaler about her story collection, Queen For A Day. It’s a poignant, trenchant and funny exploration of life with an autistic son. And finally, for Thanksgiving, we hear the Native American legend of how corn was given to the Abenaki people. Continue reading →

George Yancy, BACKLASH

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We spend the hour talking with Dr. George Yancy about racism in America and what white people can do about it.Â His book is, Backlash: What Happens When We Talk Honestly About Racism in America?

It grew out of a 2015 New York Times op-ed, a letter entitled Dear White AmericaÂ and the vitriolic backlash he experienced from many white readers in response.Â Continue reading →

Chris Feliciano Arnold, THE THIRD BANK OF THE RIVER

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We spend the hour talking with Chris Feliciano Arnold about his book, The Third Bank of the River: Power and Survival in The 21st Century Amazon (Picador USA, June 2018).

It’s a sweeping investigation of crime and corruption in the Amazon, all the more relevant now that the extreme right-wingÂ politician Jair Bolsinaro has been elected President of Brazil. We originally spoke with Chris Arnold before the election,Â but were able to get a post-election update from him to add to the program.

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Lawrence Goldstone, UNPUNISHED MURDER & Susan Wood, ELIZABETH WARREN

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Today, we feature two books aimed at children and teens. We talk with Lawrence Goldstone about his book, Unpunished Murder: Massacre at Colfax and the Quest for Justice. It’s about a massacre of African Americans that occurred almost 150 years ago and the Supreme Court verdict that overturned their convictions. The case centered around an interpretation of the 14th Amendment — an amendment that is under attack today by our president and his Republican allies.

Then, we talk with children’s book author Susan Wood about her picture book biography, Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted.Â It is charmingly illustrated by Sarah Green. Continue reading →

Anand Giridharadas, WINNERS TAKE ALL & Nathan Schneider, EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE

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We talk with Anand Giridharadas about his groundbreaking new book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World.

Then, we find out about a different way of doing business: the cooperative movement that’s sweeping the globe. We talk with Nathan Schneider about his book, Everything For Everyone: TheÂ Radical Tradition That Is ShapingÂ theÂ Next Economy. Continue reading →

Tana French, THE WYCH ELM & THE TRESPASSER

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We spend the hour talking with master of crime fictionÂ Tana French, first about her new novel The Wych Elm (given a rave review by Stephen King in the New York Times.)

Then we re-air our 2016 interview with her about her last to date in the Dublin Murder Squad series, The Trespasser. Continue reading →

Tatjana Soli, THE REMOVES & Charles Mann, 1491

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Tatjana Soli talks about her new novel, The Removes. It takes place during the so-called “Indian Wars” in the American West. Then, we air our interview from 2005 with Charles Mann about his acclaimed study of the Americas before Columbus, 1491. Continue reading →

Aida Edemariam, THE WIFE’S TALE & Russell Powell, APPLES OF NEW ENGLAND

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We talk with Aida Edemariam about her memoir,Â The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History.Â It’s about her Ethiopian grandmother who, over nearly a century of living, experienced the transformation of Ethiopian society and her place in it.

Then we celebrate apple season with Russell Powell, talking about his book,Â Apples of New England: A User’s Guide. Continue reading →

James Loewen, LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME & Lois Lowry, FUN AND GAMES

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We talk with James E. Loewen about his bestseller Lies My Teacher Told Me and why teaching history the right way is so important to our democracy.

Then, the celebrated author of The Giver is writing a play about school shootings. We speak with Lois Lowry about her work-in-progress, currently titled Fun and Games. Continue reading →

Arundhati Roy, THE MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS & Imogen Hermes Gowar, THE MERMAID AND MRS. HANCOCK

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We talk with Arundhati Roy about her bestselling new novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, set in today’s India. Then, Imogen Hermes Gowar tells us about her acclaimed debut novel set in 18^th century London, The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock. Continue reading →

Irwin Redlener, THE FUTURE OF US & Barbara Oakley, LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

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We talk with Dr. Irwin Redlener about his book The Future of Us: What the Dreams of Children Mean for Twenty-First-Century America. Then we talk withÂ Barbara Oakley about her book, Learning How To Learn, A Guide for Kids and Teens. Continue reading →

Cory Taylor, HOW HITLER WAS MADE & Nicholas Kusnetz on new anti-protest laws

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We talk with Cory Taylor about his book, How Hitler Was Made: Germany and the Rise of the Perfect Nazi. Then, Koch Brothers sponsored efforts are getting harsh new anti-protest laws passed in states across the country. We talk with Nicholas Kusnetz of Inside Climate News about this new threat to free speech.Â Continue reading →

Carl Hoffman, THE LAST WILD MEN OF BORNEO & Dale Peterson, THE GHOSTS OF GOMBE

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Carl Hoffman talks about his book The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure. Then we talk with Jane Goodall’s biographer Dale Peterson about his new book, The Ghosts of Gombe: A True Story of Love and Death in an African Wilderness. Continue reading →

Aaron Carroll, The Bad Food Bible & Kristin Lawless, Formerly Known As Food

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We talk with Dr. Aaron Carroll about his book The Bad Food Bible: How and Why to Eat Sinfully. Then, Kristin Lawless tells us about why processed food is so bad for us. Her book is Formerly Known As Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies, and Culture. Continue reading →

Steven Stoll, RAMP HOLLOW & Rachel Cleetus, Underwater

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We talk with Steven Stoll about his brilliant history of Appalachia: Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia. Then, coastal property values are threatened by sea level rise. We talk with Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists about the report she co-authored, Underwater, Rising Seas, Chronic Floods, and the Implications forÂ US Coastal Real Estate. Continue reading →