Sheri T. Joseph joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on her award winning novel, Edge of the Known World, set in the near future where geopolitics only vaguely resembles our own, and blood, DNA, and family loyalties challenge the global power structures. Barbara L Baer talks with Suzanne on her latest novel, Masha and Alejandro Crossing Borders, which follows the plight of an immigrant family who move to Trinity County California, looking for a more affordable life and encountering a segment of America they hadn’t anticipated. A Novel Idea with Suzanne M. Lang.

Voices of writers, voices of creative, accomplished women have gotten lost in the fog of other people’s fame, and mostly by the conventions and male-centric perspective that permeated the 20 th century literary scene in America. Iris Jamal Dunkle intends to change that and joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on her current biography, Riding Like the Wind: The Life of Sanora Babb, and her previous book, Charmian Kittredge London: Trailblazer, Author, Adventurer. It’s A Novel Idea. Streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

S uzanne Lang talks with Matthew Ferrence, who ran for the Pennsylvania State Legislature (and lost) in a gerrymandered red area that is deemed “un-winnable” by Democrats. He tells his story in I Hate it Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay . Also featured is Suzanne’s conversation with award winning librarian and free speech advocate Amanda Jones, who has been the target of a nasty campaign of harassment from the far right in her home state of Louisiana. Her memoir is That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America. It’s A Novel Idea on KRCB FM 104.9. streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

Suzanne Lang talks with philanthropist, motivational speaker, and author Jillian Haslam on her memoir A Voice Out of Poverty. Haslam grew up in India amongst the poorest of the poor, for a time living with her family under a cement stairwell; she miraculously emerged to work in international banking and has founded educational and vocational organizations to give a hand up to those who still struggle. Also featured is long time NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu, musing on his life and past and the state of the world. It’s A Novel Idea, Sunday, September 29 th at 10am PT on KRCB FM 104.9, streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

The German occupation of Paris during World War II was a time of shifting and uncertain alliances, and life for Parisians required a bit of careful attention. Suzanne Lang talks with Aurelie Thiele, author of the historical novel, The Paris Understudy, a sweeping tale of the Paris Opera world, two rival opera singers, their struggle for success amidst Hitler and the Nazis, and their plight to save others victimized by them. Also featured is Suzanne’s conversation with Brian Belefant on his novella The Sultan of Garbage. An Island of plastic in the Pacific Ocean and the ennui of modern life set this absurdist story in motion. It’s A Novel Idea on KRCB 104.9 .

Becoming who we are. Suzanne M. Lang talks with thought leader, McArthur Fellow, and founder of the Sphinx Project, Aaron P. Dworkin on his book “Lessons in Gratitude, a Memoir on Race, the Arts, and Mental Health”. Becoming who we are. Suzanne M. Lang talks with thought leader, McArthur Fellow, and founder of the Sphinx Project, Aaron P. Dworkin on his book “Lessons in Gratitude, a Memoir on Race, the Arts, and Mental Health”. Shamanism is one of the oldest wisdom traditions on the planet and Suzanne talks with Alicia M. Rodriguez on her intriguing memoir of transformation, “The Shaman's Wife, A Mystical Journey of Surrender and Self-Discovery”. Streaming and podcastiing at krcb.org .

A Novel Idea goes polar with Cynthia Reeves and her novel of love, loss, and survival at the top of the world, THE LAST WHALER. Also featured is journalist Andrea Pitzer with her riveting tale of polar explorer William Barents’ time stuck in the frozen polar ice and overwintering there in the late 16 th Century. It’s A Novel Idea with Suzanne Lang. Streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

Fred Waitzkin, best-selling author of Searching for Bobby Fischer, joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on his writing and latest work addressing friendship and homelessness, Anything is Good. Also featured is Susan Sisko Carter, singer and Hollywood scriptwriter, with her novel, The Lyric Hotel. It’s A Novel Idea, Sunday August 4 th at 10am PT on KRCB 104.9 FM, streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

From Jim Crow to Civil Rights, it was tenacious and savvy black musicians who paved the way. Suzanne Lang talks with Larry Tye whose book is The Jazzmen, How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America . Also featured is Carl Unegbu with his book Comedy Goes To Court, When People Stop Laughing and Start Fighting . It’s A Novel Idea, Sunday morning at 10 am PT, streaming and podcasting at krcb.org .

Suzanne Lang talks with award winning author of books for kids and adults, Susan Muaddi Darraj, whose novel is BEHIND YOU IS THE SEA . This story of diaspora, of people living in a Palestinian American community in Baltimore, is an immigrant tale of generations. Rex Ogle also joins Suzanne and talks about his latest memoir geared toward young adults, ROAD HOME. At seventeen, he was kicked out of the house for being gay and for a time lived on the streets of New Orleans. The story is hard, yet full of self-compassion. It’s A Novel Idea. Every first, third, and fifth Sunday at 10:00 am PT. Streaming at krcb.org .