The second of two special episodes based around the craft of writing, Ep. 29 of First Impressions features more chat with Brooklyn-based author Douglas Berman as we turn to travel writing, both of us having lived in the Far East and written about our experiences there to some degree.
We discuss the risks and benefits of bearing witness to a place as outsiders and how well-known authors like DH Lawrence and George Orwell have fared doing the same, as well as the expectations that come with setting fiction in a particular time and/or place.
Poetry is also discussed and Doug chooses a travel-related Derek Walcott poem, The Castaway, to share. Within the conversation there is news of the second of my two novels forthcoming on Pine Goat – The Neighbours, a speculative thriller set in a fictional northern town in which a community finds themselves with unanticipated superpowers. I read an extract from The Neighbours at 44:16 while Doug shares his short pieces ‘Taiwan in the New Year’ (13:56) and ‘Iced Sausages’ (21:35) plus a poem of his own (54:12).
A giveaway of the audiobook version of my last published novel Hong Kong Rocks is mentioned. Drop me a line at pjhwriting@gmail.com if you’d like more details of that.
Some links to topics we covered:
More reflections on DH Lawrence’s Morning in Mexico
DH Lawrence’s Studies in Classic American Literature examined
On author David TK Wong's life and work
More about Eileen Chang's life and work
Details of Garth Simmons’ two books Hole Punch and The Men in My Life can be found via his Instagram page, which is an excellent follow.
Hong Kong Rocks audiobook available on Google Play/other audiobook platforms.