Northwest Book Talk

Poet, educator, and musician Jesse Morse discusses place-based writing, poetry, nature writing, and teaching creative writing at Clark College.

In this episode of Northwest Book Talk, Jesse explores how writers can capture the spirit of a place through observation, sensory detail, and storytelling.

He also shares insights into teaching poetry, balancing music and writing, and leading a workshop on place-based writing at the Northwe...

Temple Lentz—author of Not Quite Home and an international award-winning novelist—joins Patty Grasher on Northwest Book Talk.

In this episode, Temple discusses how her debut novel explores homelessness, community-building, and unlikely partnerships between women from different backgrounds.

Drawing from her work in public service and nonprofit leadership, Temple shares how real-life experiences shaped the story, why fiction can make ...

Deb Miller, award-winning author of Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness, joins Northwest Book Talk to discuss breaking free from expectations and creating your own path to fulfillment.

In this conversation, Deb shares:
• Her journey from corporate executive to author
• Creative, real-world book marketing strategies
• How authors can “start where they are”
• The connection between storytelling and personal empow...

How can one hour a week change a child’s future?

In this inspiring episode of Northwest Book Talk, Anna Paul and Brook Trang of Read Northwest share how their Clark County nonprofit is helping children build confidence, improve reading skills, and succeed in school through one-on-one mentoring.

From just two schools in 2022 to more than 25 locations and 300 volunteers, Read Northwest is growing rapidly—and making a real impact. You’l...

Karen Kent, indie author of How to Almost Win aGingerbread Contest, joins Northwest Book Talk to discuss creating magical middle grade stories filled with friendship, humor, and heart.

In this episode, Karen shares the inspiration behind hercharming story set in Cinnamon Falls, where a young girl enters a gingerbread contest only to discover something mysterious—and magical—happening to hercreation overnight. We also talk about writ...

In this episode of Northwest Book Talk, host Patty Grasher interviews Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall, the husband-and-wife writing team behind PumpJack Press. With more than a dozen books across genres like paranormal westerns, science fiction, and romantic comedy, they share how they collaborate as co-authors and blend humor with meaningful storytelling in their series The Cowboy and the Vampire.

They also discuss their cooperative...

In this episode of Northwest Book Talk, host Patty Grasher interviews author Leslie Johansen Nack about her memoirs Fourteen: A Daughter’s Memoir of Adventure, Sailing and Survival and Nineteen: A Daughter’s Memoir of Reckoning and Recovery.

Leslie recounts her remarkable coming-of-age story, growing up aboard a sailboat and sailing across the Pacific Ocean with her father and sisters. Beneath the adventure was a difficult family li...

Adriana Baer joins Northwest Book Talk to share the story behind I’m Into This Place; her podcast, website, newsletter, and now KXRW radio program dedicated to highlighting the arts, culture, heritage, and history of Clark County and Southwest Washington.

With a background as a theater director and former Artistic Director of Profile Theatre, Adriana brings a deep understanding of storytelling and creative leadership to her work. A...

Award-winning nonfiction author Mary Boone joins Patty Grasher on Northwest Book Talk to discuss immersive research, writing for young readers, and the powerful true story behind her picture book, Pedal Pusher: How One Woman’s Bicycle Adventure Helped Change the World.

Mary has written more than 70 nonfiction books for children and is known for diving headfirst into her subjects — riding elephants, jumping out of airplanes, DNA-test...

In this episode of Northwest Book Talk, Patty Grasher talks with middle grade fantasy author Deb Cushman, creator of the Chronicles of Nadavir series.

Deb shares her fast-writing, slow-revising approach—explaining how she can draft a book in two months but spend up to two years preparing it for publication. She discusses her use of mastermind groups, beta readers, and professional editing to strengthen each manuscript before release...

Science fiction and fantasy author L J Dix joins Northwest Book Talk for a warm conversation about cozy sci-fi, found family storytelling, and building a writing career at any stage of life.

Author of the Starship Cat, Star Trader Independence, and Diplomat’s Apprentice series—and her newest cozy sci-fi series, Minstrel’s Luck—L J Dix shares how stories she once told her children became published books, how her background in global ...

Northwest Book Talk, host Patty Grasher is joined by author C. T. Carey, who returns to the Northwest Book Fair for a second year.

C. T. is the kind of writer readers love discovering in person—approachable, thoughtful, and deeply connected to his stories.

In this conversation, we talk about how he describes his books to new readers, what draws people to his work, and what it’s like meeting readers face-to-face at book events.

C. T...

For the past two years, Northwest Book Talk has shared conversations with authors and storytellers across the Pacific Northwest. In this solo episode, host Patty Grasher explains a thoughtful reset for the show—bringing a clearer focus to the Northwest Book Fair & Media Fest and the community it serves.

This episode reflects on what the show has been, what’s changing, and why this new direction feels both practical and meaningfu...

Bestselling cozy mystery author Ellie Alexander joins Patty Grasher on Northwest Book Talk to share how a simple idea blossomed into the beloved Ashland Mystery Fest, now attracting readers and writers from around the world.

Ellie talks about balancing festival planning with her writing career, the power of community partnerships, and how immersive, reader-driven events deepen the connection between authors and fans.

Tune in for a b...