Memoir coach and author Marion Roach

Making a Fine Career Writing What You Know, with Author Marion Winik

marion — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:56:19 +0000

Marion Winik is the author of nine books, including The Big Book of the Dead and the unforgettable memoir, First Comes Love, which has just been released in a special 30th anniversary edition. Her essays have been published in The New York Times Magazine, The Sun, and elsewhere. Her column at baltimorefishbowl.com has been running since 2011. She’s a professor at the University of Baltimore, and she reviews books for The Washington Post, Oprah Daily, and People, among others, and hosts the NPR podcast, The Weekly Reader. She was a commentator on All Things Considered for 15 years. The recipient of the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award, Marion Winik is the perfect person with whom to discuss making a fine career writing what you know. Powered by RedCircle Marion: How are you? Marion Winik: I am fine and very pleased to be here, Marion. Marion: Our mothers did, or somebody did, a good job of naming us as far as I’m concerned, and they spelled it right, which is good. Yeah. So you began your professional writing life as a poet, publishing two collections, Nonstop and Boy Crazy. And whenever I get to speak to a writer who […]

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How to Write What You Know, with Author Huda Al-Marashi

marion — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:54:30 +0000

Writer and author Huda Almarashi writes for both children and adults. She’s a co-author of the middle grade novel Grounded, which won the Walter Dean Myers Honor Award, and the author of the memoir First Comes Marriage, My Not-So-Typical American Love Story. Her other writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, and Al Jazeera. She’s a fellow and mentor with the Highlights Foundation Muslim Storytellers Program. Her short story, “Not Only and Only,” was featured in the celebrated anthology Once Upon an Eid. Her new book is a middle grade novel titled Hail, Miriam, just out from Penguin. Join us as we discuss how to write what you know. Powered by RedCircle Marion: Welcome, Huda. Huda: Thank you so much for having me. Marion: Well, it’s a delight to have you here. I had so much fun reading through your work. I learned a lot. I was provoked. And let’s just lead off with this memoir. Your memoir, First Comes Marriage, My Not-So-Typical American Love Story, was published in 2018 with Prometheus. It is roundly regarded as the first Muslim American memoir dedicated to the themes of love and sexuality. Now, […]

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On Balancing Curiosity, Research and Writing with Matti Friedman

marion — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:08:47 +0000

MATTI FRIEDMAN IS AN award-winning journalist and author. His work as a reporter has taken him from Israel to Lebanon, Morocco, Moscow, the Caucasus and Washington, D.C. A former Associated Press correspondent, his work has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. He currently writes from Israel for The Free Press. The author of five nonfiction books that have been translated into a dozen languages and have so far been awarded the Sammy Rohrer Prize, the Natan Prize, the ALA Sophie Brody Medal, and more, his new book is Out of the Sky, Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe, just out from Spiegel & Grau. Listen in and read along as we discuss balancing curiosity, research and writing and a whole lot more. Powered by RedCircle Marion: Welcome, Matti. Matti: Thanks so much for having me. Marion: Well, it’s an honor to meet you. Your work as a reporter has taken you from Israel to Lebanon, Moscow. I talked about that in the intro, the Caucasus and Washington, D.C. You were born in Toronto. You currently live and write from Israel. But I want to get back to the start of you. Give me […]

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