Life of JEM

This is a special mini episode! Writer Thomas A. Davila reads a short excerpt from his recently published story "A Day in the Life", about a person overcoming his disability to thrive, a story appearing in the Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Rae Duran). Listen in. And get the anthology from Flowersong Press which contains many writers incl...

This is such an important touchstone of an episode! JEM interviews her twin sister, Writer Dr. Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez (aka Jackie), whose epic book "Hey Miss: Unveiling Learning's Promise" (909 Books, 2026) will drop on April 6, 2026 (available for preorder now!). This is the last episode before JEM goes on an extended year hiatus!! In their fascinating conversation, Jackie & JEM talk about teaching as Jackie's life purpose...

JEM interviews David A. Romero, a writer with multiple books of poetry and prose. They talk about his first novel, the epic noir mystery thriller The Enemy Sleeps (El Martillo Press, 2026). Published to critical acclaim, The Enemy Sleeps is must read fiction and David reads from a chapter and he and JEM talk about the novel's genesis and how David used his novel to speak on issues of identity, colonialism, immigration and race. Thi...

JEM interviews Writer, Poet and Painter Lavina Blossom about her new book of poetry just published by Bamboo Dart Press titled "Here to be Remade". They talk about her process of creating this collection of poems by using books of poems taken from her bookshelf. They also talk about Lavina's paintings that are interspersed among the poems and the intersection between painting and poetry. It is an inspirational and enlightening conv...

Tune in as JEM interviews Lucrecia Guerrero, author of numerous books including her most recent, an engrossing fiction, character driven book set in Ohio with a Latina protagonist. The book is "On The Mad River" published by Mouthfeel Press and it is a fantastic and thrilling read! They have an engrossing conversation on writing time specific fiction set in a geographically unique place and Lucrecia gives tips on how to write compe...

JEM interviews one of her favorite writers, the acclaimed, prize winning author Toni Ann Johnson. JEM talks with Toni Ann about Toni Ann's most recent book, a brilliant and beautiful linked story collection titled But Where’s Home?, which was just published by Screen Door Press.

They have a fascinating, in-depth conversation on the line between memoir and auto fiction, and discuss the process of writing a...

JEM & Stevo Lution (aka Steve Lossing) have a chat of epic proportions about Stevo's latest book, a collaboration with the late great poet Johnny Bender, aka Brutus Chieftain, titled "The Gospel According to Bombastus" (Bamboo Dart Press, 2025). They chat about the book's genesis, about punk life in the 1980s, about sequencing and Bowie, about Poets in Distress & the venue called Pondwater. Listen in and find out how Stevo'...

JEM interviews Suzanne Weerts, author of the just released "Champagne Girl in a Budweiser Family, a memoir in stories". They talk about blue collar life growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, writing in young adult voice, memorializing the nostalgia inherent in childhood and how performance and narrative storytelling played a role in Suzanne's process of writing this memoir. A must listen to conversation on theme and craft that will bo...

Listen in to JEM highlight "Not Your Papi's Utopia: Latinx Visions of Radical Hope", an anthology recently released by Mouthfeel Press. She interviews editor Sara Rivera, and then three amazing writers from the anthology read an excerpt aloud, Lesley Téllez, Joy Castro & Rolando Lopez. Then, they all chat about the readings. A must listen to conversation about a book you must read. It's an anthology for the times! Listen in and...