1:00 PM: Thursdays
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.
Two interviews: Malcolm Margolin (1940-2025) legendary Berkeley-based publisher of Heyday books, in a 2014 interview about his career. Azar Nafisi, author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran” discusses the tyranny of the Islamic regime and her love for literature in an interview from 2009. Also: A tribute to KPFA’s late master of poetry, Jack Foley. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Francine Prose discusses her latest book, “1974: A Personal History” and her relationship with Anthony Russo of the Pentagon Papers, now in trade paperback. From the Cover to Cover Archive, an interview with the late horror director Wes Craven, recorded in 1999, co-interviewed by Richard A. Lupoff. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Two from the Bookwaves Archive 2007: Amy Bloom, award-winning novelist and short-story writer, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA studios, on October 4, 2007 while on tour for her second novel, “Away.” John Banville, Booker Prize winning novelist, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA studios, on March 19, 2007 while on tour for the novel, “Christine Falls,” written under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. Plus reviews of “A Driving Beat” at TheatreWorks and “Sally and Tom” at Marin Theatre. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Tanith Lee (1947-2015) and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (1942-2025). This programhonors two master practitioners of horror, fantasy and science fiction, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Tanith Lee, with two interviews back to back. In the first, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro joins Richard A. Lupoff to speak with Tanith Lee, recorded in San Jose in 1983. In the second, Richard Wolinsky speaks with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro about her historical horror fiction, recorded in late 1978 or early 1979. Also: Review of “Stereophonic” at the Curran Theatre through November 23, 2025. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues Susan Hill: Master of Ghost Stories and Noir Susan Hill, author of “The Woman in Black” and other novels, in conversation by phone with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded November 29, 2021. The Woman in Black, a play by … Continued
Richard Powers discusses his latest novel, “Playground,” which focuses on Big Tech and AI and has just come out in trade paperback. Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2006) in a newly digitized interview recorded in 2001 discusses racism and minority mental health and her novel, “What You Owe Me.” Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
From the Archive: Mystery writer Thomas Perry (1947-2025), who died on September 15, 2025, discusses his career in this 2006 interview, which has not aired in eighteen years; Gay icon, novelist and memoirist Edmund White (1940-2025) who died on June 3, 2025, recorded during the tour for his best-selling novel, “The Farewell Symphony.” This interview was recently digitized and not heard for over a quarter century. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Fund Drive Special: Nora Ephron (1941-2012) in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded November 21, 2010, while on tour for her book, “I Remember Nothing.” Known as one of the finest screenplay writers Hollywood ever saw, she is best known for such films as Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle. Her final film was Julie & Julia. A playwright and essayist, her influence is still felt in the entertainment business. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky and Laura Prives.
Stephen Greenblatt, Shakespearean scholar and Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, discusses his book “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival,” along with thoughts on politics in America today, the destruction of American science, political violence and other themes. Also: A review of “Shucked” at the Curran Theatre through October 5, 2025. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Robert Jay Lifton, who died on September 4, 2025 at the age of 99., was a psychiatrist and author who studied the psychological causes and effects of wars and political violence. In this interview recorded in 1999, he talks about cults, in partricular Aum Shinrikyo, the group that loosed sarin gas into the Tokyo subway system, snd about the nature of war and trauma. He was interviewed by Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky. This interview was digitized, remastered and edited in September 2025 by Richard Wolinsky and is heard in its entirety for the first time. Also: An excerpt from an early interview with the late horror and fantasy author Chelsea Quiin Yarbro (194202925) who died on August 31, 2025 at the age of 82, discussing her vampire hero, Count Saint-Germain, and a review of ‘Eureka Day” at Marin Theatre through Sept. 28, 2025. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
