“A recent documentary about Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison brings the renowned writer’s words to screen while sharing an intimate personal look at her through the eyes of a close friend. John Yang sits down with director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, who has known Morrison for 38 years, to discuss how they met, her career as an editor…
Gustavo Arellano “Comforts the Afflicted and Afflicts the Comfortable.” Arellano describes himself as “a Mexican with glasses con su pluma en su mano who writes pure DESMADRE about everything.” A writer, journalist, and editor, Gustavo Arellano is not afraid to use his pen to write sh*t about anything and anyone. His publisher, Simon & Schuster,…
Velina Hasu Houston is Distinguished Professor and Resident Playwright at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dramatic Arts. On her website, there is a Zen saying, Ichigo Ichie, roughly translated as “Each encounter in life happens only once.” It is a saying that Ms. Houston carries into her everyday life and her writing. “For…
Frankie Hernandez is a published writer and television producer who has been part of the Los Angeles literary scene for 25 years. Ask her to describe her creative self and she has a quick answer: passionate and just can’t help herself. Well, it’s obvious that she’s passionate, but what is it with the second part?…
Ralph De La Cruz, his wife Maria Chaves-De La Cruz, their pets, and their home survived the recent Napa-Sonoma fires. The fires raced through Napa and Sonoma County not long after I interviewed Ralph De La Cruz via phone for this podcast. He and his wife are old friends from their days in Long Beach….