Author Talk with Jerome Loving

What happens when a literary scholar turns his attention to a deeply personal chapter of his own history?

On this episode of Author Talk, we sit down with acclaimed author, literary biographer, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University Jerome Loving to discuss his book, After the Good War.Known for his extensive research into some of America's most influential writers.

Jerome takes us in a different direction as we explore his own experiences during the Vietnam War era and the memories that inspired him to put his story on the page.

We talk about the importance of preserving personal history, the challenges of revisiting the past, and what it means to tell a story shaped by one of America's most complicated periods. From studying the lives of literary legends to sharing his own, Jerome reminds us that every life has a story worth telling.

New on Author Talk: Matt Evans, author of CHOMPING AT THE BIT

I, Russell and Valerie (welcome back!) talk with Matt, an equine veterinarian AND Austin stand-up comic, about his new comedic memoir, Chomping at the Bit: How I Became a Horse Vet Against All Common Sense.

Matt wasn't raised around horses and was told he couldn't become a vet, let alone a horse vet. He blames James Herriot for all of it.We get into what it's really like to be on call every other week for 20 years, why horses are tougher than their reputation, horse dentistry (yes, it's a whole career), and how a pile of essays became a memoir.

New on Author Talk: Mark Weeks, author of POON TOWN

Russell and I, with Sandy filling in for Valerie, talk with Mark about his novel set in the invite-only world of Florida Keys tarpon tournaments. In that world, successful adults stake their whole self-esteem on a fish they're going to release anyway.

It's a fishing book the way a marathon book is about running. It's really about obsession, aging, and watching something you love slowly decline.

We also get into Mark's 22 years in Japan, fly fishing in snow country, the pololo worm hatch, and what it's like when a thousand tarpon swim past your perfect cast and give you the fin.