Season 4 Reading Series: When Pop Music Meets the Occult: O.F. Cieri Discusses and Reads From Her Novel ‘Backmask’
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, O.F. Cieri reads an excerpt from her novel ‘Backmask’ and discusses the inspiration behind the story and the music that shaped it.
Season 4 Reading Series: Murder, Music, and Mystery in LA: Philip Cohen Reads from His Novel ‘Conflict in the City’
In this episode, Philip Cohen reads from ‘Conflict in the City’, a genre-blending novel set in modern LA, where young musicians chasing rock and roll dreams are drawn into a deadly mystery that echoes the noir legacy of the city’s famed detectives.
Season 4 Reading Series: Cassettes, Secrets, and Small-Town Mysteries: Matthew Fiander Reads from His Novel, ‘Ringing in Your Ears’
In this episode of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Matthew Fiander reads from and discusses ‘Ringing in Your Ears’, his ‘90s-set debut novel about grief, family secrets, and a teenage girl’s search for truth through music and memory.
Season 4 Reading Series: Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: General Submission Winner Mark Baumgartner Reads His Story “Last Chance for a Slow Dance”
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Mark Baumgartner, winner of the first Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest in the general submission category, reads his winning story, “Last Chance for a Slow Dance.”
Season 4 Reading Series: Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: Undergrad Student Senami Kugblenu Reads Her Winning Story, “Goat and Pearls”
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Senami Kugblenu, winner of the first Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest in the undergraduate category, reads her winning story, “Goat and Pearls.”
Season 4 Reading Series: Sex, Music, Groupies, and Cults: Karen Green Discusses and Reads an Excerpt from Her Novel, ‘Yellow Birds’
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Karen Green discusses and reads an excerpt from her novel, ‘Yellow Birds’.
Season 4 Reading Series: Exploring the 27 Club with a Sci-Fi Spin: Staci Layne Wilson Reads Her Short Story About Amy Winehouse, Featured in the Anthology ‘28’
In this episode of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Staci Layne Wilson reads her short story “I Don’t Wanna Go to Remus,” reimagining Amy Winehouse’s life with a sci-fi twist where she confronts rehab on another planet.
Season 4 Reading Series: Music, Theft, and Heartbreak: Brendan Gillen Reads from His Novel ‘Static’
In this episode of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Brendan Gillen reads from his novel, ‘Static’, a story that explores the struggles of a young musician navigating heartbreak, band tensions, and creative obsession in the modern music industry.
Season 4 Reading Series: Rock, Roll, and Mobsters: Stephen Shaiken Talks About and Reads From His Rock Novel ‘Queensborough Rock’
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, author Stephen Shaiken discusses the cultural and musical backdrop of his rock novel ‘Queensborough Rock’, set in ‘60s and ‘70s New York, and reads the first two chapters.
Season 4 Reading Series: Mysteries and Music: Christy Alexander Hallberg on ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’
In this episode of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, host Christy Alexander Hallberg celebrates the third birthday of her novel, ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’, and shares the first two chapters of the audiobook.
Season 4 Reading Series: The Stalker and the Rocker: Kat Hausler Reads From Her Novel ‘What I Know About July’
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Kat Hausler reads an excerpt from her novel ‘What I Know About July’ and discusses its creation.
Season 4 Reading Series: A Blast From the ‘80s: Brieanna Wilkoff Talks Bon Jovi and Reads From Her Novel ‘I’ll Be There For You’
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Brieanna Wilkoff shares how ‘80s music, especially Bon Jovi, influenced her novel, ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and reads an excerpt.
Season 4 Reading Series: Inside ‘The Death of Rock and Roll’: A Reading with Author Ryan Hyatt
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Ryan Hyatt reads the first chapter of his novel ‘The Death of Rock and Roll’ and gives some background on the creation of the story.
Season 4 Reading Series: Inside ‘Rain Gray Town’: A Reading with Author Robert Greenfield
In this episode of Rock is Lit, prolific author Robert Greenfield delves into his rock novel ‘Rain Gray Town’, offering listeners an unforgettable journey through the rise and fall of a fictional rock band set against the backdrop of London and Los Angeles.
Season 4 Reading Series: Garth Risk Hallberg on the Power of Music in His New Novel, ‘The Second Coming’
In this premiere installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, acclaimed author Garth Risk Hallberg reads an excerpt from his new novel, ‘The Second Coming’, and gives some background on the evolution of the book and the important role music plays in the story.
Episode 54: Scott Michaels on the Murder of ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ Actor Sal Mineo
In this episode, we dive deep into the murder of ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ actor Sal Mineo, with Scott Michaels as our guide through this Hollywood true crime tale.
Episode 53: Kim Wright On Her Novel ‘Last Ride to Graceland’ with Stephanie Myers and Cador Jones On Elvis’s Alleged “Lovechildren"
In Episode 53, award-winning author Kim Wright takes us on a literary road trip with her novel 'Last Ride to Graceland,' where protagonist Cory Beth unravels the mysteries of her mother's past and potential connection to Elvis Presley, then Stephanie Myers of Songfacts Podcast and Rock is Lit Season 3 Production Intern Cador Jones join me to explore real-life claims of individuals who believe they are Elvis's “lovechildren.”
Episode 52 Rock Queen Writers: A Panel Discussion on Writing About Musicians in Fiction, with Jessamyn Violet, Mallory Smart, Claire Hopple, Kirsti MacKenzie
Episode 52 of Rock is Lit features a dynamic panel discussion with four women authors exploring the art of writing about musicians in fiction, delving into their creative processes, challenges, and the cultural impact of their narratives.
Episode 51: Exploring Jewish Identity, The Holocaust, and the Healing Power of Music in Jason Warburg’s Novel ‘Home Was a Dream’
Episode 51 of Rock is Lit delves into Jason Warburg’s novel ‘Home Was a Dream’, exploring themes of Jewish heritage, identity, and the profound impact of the Holocaust, intertwined with the healing power of music.
Episode 50 Part 2: Exploring Real-Life Musician Disappearances with Nathan D. Duvall, Inspired by Jeff Jackson’s Novel ‘Mira Corpora’
In Episode 50 Part 2, Nathan D. Duvall and this semester’s Rock is Lit intern, Cador Jones, join me to talk about actual musicians who, like the rockstar in Jeff Jackson’s novel ‘Mira Corpora’ (EP50 Part 1), mysteriously disappeared.