In 2015, I was honored to be asked to help continue John Seigenthaler's literary legacy by co-hosting A WORD ON WORDS, his long-running literary television series on Nashville Public Television.
It has been an incredible ride alongside my fabulous co-host, fellow Nashville author Mary Laura Philpott, talking with authors from all kinds of genres and walks of life. And in 2017, we were over the moon to win an EMMY for our first season!
Take a second, pop up your feet, and hear from some of your favorite authors. You can learn more about the show here, and follow along online at Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. #keepreading
Season 4
Rebecca Makkai
Craig Johnson
"What if you did a protagonist who was the sheriff of the least populated county, in the least populated state in America? It would make you focus more on character and place." Author Craig Johnson talks to host J.T. Ellison about DEPTH OF WINTER on Nashville Public Television's, A WORD ON WORDS.
Silas House
"I think the South is always a microcosm of America, and if you capture it accurately then you're capturing the whole country accurately." Author Silas House talks to host Mary Laura Philpott about SOUTHERNMOST on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS.
Tayari Jones
"I know I have a novel when I have a situation where the characters disagree even though they are both right." Author Tayari Jones talks to host J.T. Ellison about her book, AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE, on Nashville Public Television's, A WORD ON WORDS.
Alexander Chee
"I do also think of it as a series of misidentifications that taught me about myself." Author Alexander Chee talks to host Mary Laura Philpott about HOW TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL on Nashville Public Television's, A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all A WORD ON WORDS episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Victoria “V.E.” Schwab
"I don't believe in black-and-white heroes in villainy. What I do believe in is that most of us are cast in shades of gray." Author Victoria "V.E." Schwab ta...
Kate DiCamillo
"A book is a place to learn about empathy. If something terrible has happened to you, a book is a place to make you feel less alone." Author Kate DiCamillo talks to host Mary Laura Philpott about LOUISIANA'S WAY HOME on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS.
Lisa Patton
"That was really fun for me to write that character that could stand up for what's right." Author Lisa Patton talks to host J.T. Ellison about RUSH on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all A WORD ON WORDS episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Dani shapiro
"I think looking backwards helps us to move forward." Author Dani Shapiro talks to host Mary Laura Philpott about INHERITANCE on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all A WORD ON WORDS episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Delia Owens
"We, as mammals, have a genetic propensity to live in strong, female groups." Author Delia Owens talks to host J.T. Ellison about WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all A WORD ON WORDS episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Deanna Raybourn
"Petticoat and Parasol Brigade is my term for a group of Victorian women who, instead of sitting in a parlor tatting lace and serving tea to the vicar, decided to get out and investigate the world." Author Deanna Raybourn talks to host J.T. Ellison about A DANGEROUS COLLABORATION on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS.
Tim Johnston
"Most of the characters you write about, even the bad ones, you tend to love in some way." Author Tim Johnston talks to host Mary Laura Philpott about THE CURRENT on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Harlan Coben
"Hope is the most wonderful thing to write about because hope can make a heart soar, or it can crush your heart like an eggshell." Author Harlan Coben talks to NPT host J.T. Ellison about RUN AWAY on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS.
Ocean Vuong
"To be beautiful from birth to death is still to be beautiful only briefly." Ocean Vuong talks to NPT host Mary Laura Philpott about ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading
Margaret Renkl
"I always think it's a mistake to try to tame nature, to try to fit nature into a domesticated world." Author Margaret Renkl talks to NPT host Mary Laura Philpott about LATE MIGRATIONS on Nashville Public Television's A WORD ON WORDS. Watch all episodes here: https://awordonwords.org #KeepReading