Bookwaves/Artwaves – July 16, 2026

Bookwaves/Artwaves

Bookwaves/Artwaves presents in-depth interviews with authors of fiction and narrative non-fiction, delving deeply into political and social issues, literary technique, and the life of the author, along with interviews devoted to theatre and film, and archive interviews from Bookwaves and Probabilities. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Upcoming Episode

Lisa See, whose latest novel is “Daughters of the Sun and Moon,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in Culver City, California on June 28, 2026. Lisa See’s best-selling books include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, China Dolls, The Island of Sea Women more recently, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. Each novel, thus far, focuses on the role and lives of women of East Asian descent in various countries, including Korea, Japan, China and the United States. Some of the novels focus on a mystery, others take place within the context of historical events.


Pride Special: David Sedaris discusses his latest collection of essays, “The Land and Its People: and delves into how he writes his essays in this new interview. Edmund White (1940-2025) one of the foremost writers of gay literature, discusses his novel, “The Married Man” in this interview recorded June 10, 2000 and now heard for the first time in a quarter century.


For Pride Month, an interview with Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Hours,” recorded in 2005 and not heard in two decades. Then an interview with the great science fiction and horror author Dan Simmons (1948-2026), author of the Hyperion series and “The Terror,” who died this past February, interviewed by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities in 1991. Recently digitized, this interview has not aired in over thirty years. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


Jeff Griffith-Perham is the curator of a retrospective “A Complete Stanley Kubrick” at Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), running from June 12 through August 30, 2026. He is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. In this interview, each of Kubrick’s films are discussed, along with ideas about Kubrick’s antiwar viewpoint, his working process and his place in film history. (Photo from The Shining courtesy BAMPFA).


British novelist and essayist John Lanchester discusses his latest novel, “Look What You Made Me Do,” a satirical psychological thriller, along with his essays on Artificial Intelligence and generation gaps. Also: Reviews of “Pictures from Home’ at Marin Theatre through May 31st and “Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” at San Francisco Playhouse through June 27th. Produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


George Saunders, whose latest novel is Vigil, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. This latest novel, Vigil, takes place in the in-between time before death, when an elderly oil oligarch lies dying, and an angel of mercy, a ghost, named Jill, is on hand to comfort him. The question at hand concerns forgiveness, accountability, grace and several other issues that become involved when someone whose actions were deleterious to humankind and the planet is forced to examine their actions on earth. Also: Review of “Come from Away” at TheatreWorks Mountain View through May 10, 2026.


Patrick Dooley, Artistic Director of Shotgun Players theatre company, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. In the interview, Patrick discusses his own history with live theatre, the origins of Shotgun Players, his views on such issues as the age of the audience and the subscription model, as well as the rest of the 2026 theatrical season. Also: A review of “The Monsters” at Berkeley Rep’s Peets Theatre through May 3, 2026.