KJZZ's Word

On this National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) retrospective and seventh episode of Season 2, we get back on the mic with some guests who joined us previously to discuss their hard work.Included in this episode are Laura MacKenzie, Theresa Munroe, Sonja Moman, and a new guest, Ann Peterson, who channeled her love of poetry in writing fiction.

We continue our focus on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in this sixth episode of Season 2 as we catch up with three writers and their stories in medias res.Guests include Michelle Rabe, Laura MacKenzie and Valley teacher Sonja Momon, who incorporates NaNo into her classroom in a unique way and is going rogue this month for what might be called NaNoMyMo.

In this fifth episode of Season 2, we celebrate writers all over Arizona who are participating in the annual NaNoWriMo.We also take a trip to the Just Read Local Author's Fair that was held Nov. 2, at Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix. The fair was the brainchild of Jeriann Thacker, adult services coordinator for the library.

In this fourth episode of Season 2, we celebrate Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac who died 50 years ago this month and whose legendary novel, “On the Road,” which encapsulated the Beat Generation was published 62 years ago in September.We feature a performance of his with Steve Allen in 1959 and a bit of humor about Beat culture from Del Close and John Brent as well as an episode of "Mr. Know It All," from "The Bullwinkle Show" that takes a funny angle on "How To Be A Beatnik."

Word is a KJZZ podcast about the literary arts in Arizona and the region.In this third episode of Season 2, “All the World’s a Stage.” If so, what are theater directors doing to include more diversity on it?KJZZ’s “The Show” co-host Steve Goldstein talks to the winner of the Arizona Theatre Company’s National LatinX Playwriting Award for an answer.Plus, we find out what is a choreopoem, a term first coined in 1975 by playwright/poet Ntozake Shange whose work, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” exhibits the form.

Word is a KJZZ podcast about the literary arts in Arizona and the region.In this second episode of Season 2, we explore children's and young adult literature in Arizona.First, we talk to fellow podcaster Pamela Rogers, creator and host of "Buttons & Figs," a show that uses "nonsense" to make sense. Pamela is a descendant of E. Lowell Rogers who has an amphitheater named after him in Glendale. She just moved back to the Phoenix metro area two years ago.We also take a trip to Childsplay to talk to Dwayne Hartford, artistic director and creator of the stage adaptation of "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" playing at Herberger Theater until Oct. 13, 2019. The play is based on the book of the same name and written by Kate DiCamillo. Plus, budding young writers from the Valley get the skinny on how Arizona authors get inspired to write and bring their works to market. We feature interviews with authors Ginger Scott, Jeff Mariotte, Sharon Skinner as well as Kyrene Middle School literature teacher and writer Deb Rosenblum. She spearheaded the Student Writing Conference which took place Sept. 7, 2019.In October, we're focusing on literature about the road and also on the spooky season. If you have ideas on who we should talk to or a contribution of your own, reach out to tmaxedon@kjzz.org.To hear more, visit word.kjzz.org.

In this mammoth Season 2 opener, we push back against the depiction of young people from low income families as depicted in Nick Richey's film, "Low Low" which is being screened in Scottsdale on Sept. 12. The filmmaker will participate in a Q&A following the movie.We push back against migrant abuse with writers from Tucson and Phoenix, who participated in a national event, "Writers For Migrant Justice" on Sept. 4. Poets include Bojan Louis, Marianna Curtis Coles and Katerina Ivanoc who performed in Tucson at Exo Roast Company. Audio was supplied by Susan Briante. Other poets include Claudia Belen and Joel Salcido performing at Puente in Phoenix. Audio was supplied by Anna Flores and the Phoenix event is available online. We push back against the suppression of women's rights with the relaunch of The Revolution — an iconic newspaper created by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and reimagined by Rosemarie Dombroski, Phoenix poet laureate and a team of historians, such as Dr. Pamela Stewart as well as writers and artists. Hear more at word.kjzz.org.

On this penultimate episode for Season 11 of Word, everything old is new when it comes to a Roman Emperor who practiced Stoicism. Plus, we offer a new spin on a gothic literary classic. And, we propose a couple of adult fiction summer reading suggestions.

On this penultimate episode for Season 11 of Word, everything old is new when it comes to a Roman Emperor who practiced Stoicism. Plus, we offer a new spin on a gothic literary classic. And, we propose a couple of adult fiction summer reading suggestions.

Arizona State University will host a CantoMundo retreat with Latinx poets; a new play about two beloved film critics comes to the stage in the Valley; and David Ignatius from the Washington Post talks about his new fictional spy thriller, and real-world technology that poses a serious national security concern.

Arizona State University will host a CantoMundo retreat with Latinx poets; a new play about two beloved film critics comes to the stage in the Valley; and David Ignatius from the Washington Post talks about his new fictional spy thriller, and real-world technology that poses a serious national security concern.

On this episode of Word, we discuss a new romance book club in the Valley, how the 2022 shooting of a Valley man by a former Phoenix police officer inspired a collection of poems and a new collection of climate fiction short stories.

On this episode of Word, we discuss a new romance book club in the Valley, how the 2022 shooting of a Valley man by a former Phoenix police officer inspired a collection of poems and a new collection of climate fiction short stories.

On this episode of “Word,” we talk religion and politics with NPR National Political Correspondent and co-host of NPR’s "Politics Podcast," Sarah McCammon. We also chat with the winner of the 2023 National Book Award for Poetry, Craig Santos Perez.

On this episode of “Word,” we talk religion and politics with NPR National Political Correspondent and co-host of NPR’s "Politics Podcast," Sarah McCammon. We also chat with the winner of the 2023 National Book Award for Poetry, Craig Santos Perez.

On this episode of KJZZ's Word podcast about literature, we feature stories about a crime, a baseball historian with a century-old tale and science from an NPR correspondent. Plus, we have the winner of this year’s KJZZ Haiku Writing Contest.

On this episode of KJZZ's Word podcast about literature, we feature stories about a crime, a baseball historian with a century-old tale and science from an NPR correspondent. Plus, we have the winner of this year’s KJZZ Haiku Writing Contest.

To kick off Season 11, this episode of Word features author awards, an NPR host, poetry and the annual KJZZ Haiku Writing Contest.

To kick off Season 11, this episode of Word features author awards, an NPR host, poetry and the annual KJZZ Haiku Writing Contest.

On this season-ending episode of Word, we highlight some of those who appeared during 2023. It's a "Fest Of Us," celebrating literature and the winners of KJZZ's "Tiny Library" drawing.