Alan Heathcock and Philip J. Burgess

Reviewers for the New York Times, NPR, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and many other publications, have raved about his new collection of stories, VOLT. Publisher's Weekly gave it a starred review. Library Journal said this: "Heathcock is a writer to watch; each of these subtle stories will thrill readers with an element of surprise that will make them want to go back and see how it happened and what they missed along the way."

Alan Heathcock is currently out on tour, giving readings and interviews, signing books, and reeling from a surfeit of praise.

So how does he feel about all that? Find out during The Write Question -- Thursday evening at 6:30 (YPRadio.org) or 7:30 (MTPR.org). Heathcock will talk about his writing life, the origins of some of the stories, and read the first few pages of "The Staying Train."

Get more information about Alan Heathcock and Volt, sign up for The Write Question podcast, or listen online.

This week's Monday Poem on the blog is by Philip J. Burgess. It begins with these lines:

With every spring, high water comes to do its work
And deepen the bend in the river.
Every spring, muddy water swells and shaves away
another acre or so from Jim Paar's alfalfa field ...

[read more]

Thanks for listening and supporting public radio!

Chérie Newman